Aug. 31 marks the 23rd International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) — a day where people across the globe don purple, or wear purple ribbons to remember and honour those who have lost their lives to the ever-growing toxic drug crisis, while making an effort to raise awareness and end the stigma. With well over 80 events happening across Canada, Duncan is creating space with an event of their own on Purple Ribbon Day.
The event will be held in Charles Hoey Park on Aug. 31, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will have education, training, speakers, service providers, art, memorials, as well as food and music to create a welcoming and healing space to become better informed, raise awareness and most importantly to honour and remember our lost loved ones who left us too soon.
The Cowichan Community Action Team has been hosting an even for International Overdose Awareness Day since 2020 with last year's held at the Si'em Lelum Soccer field, and in collaboration with the Cowichan Tribes, they held it at the park the two years prior. This year's event will also include a performance by the Tzinquaw Dancers, Narcan training, and a scavenger hunt which will require people to visit every service provider tables that will be set up in the park. There will be a barbecue at noon, and as well as a memorial vigil, and community art mural that people may contribute to.
"When International Overdose Awareness Day has fallen on weekdays, we noticed lunch hour was a very busy time at the park, and felt like we were able to reach people who might not normally know about it," said CCAT peer coordinator and one of the organizers Cailey Foster. "Many businesses sent their staff down for Narcan training which was great, this year the event will be on a Saturday and we hope to attract people who may not otherwise know about the IOAD, Narcan training, or local resources."
Since the overdose crisis was declared a public health concern in B.C. in 2016, there have been well over 10,000 lives lost to illicit drugs. These thousands are someone’s son, daughter, brother, sister, father, mother, or everything. According to the BC Coroners Service in the first three months of 2024 alone, over 572 lives were lost to the toxic drug crisis, and that is just our province.
This rising epidemic does not know profession, culture, status, age, or gender — it impacts us all.
Wearing a purple ribbon or shirt, on Aug. 31 can initiate those hard conversations that lead to action and education. On this day it’s vital for people to remember that the skyrocketing numbers of overdose-related deaths aren’t just statistics, but someone’s special someone that could easily be theirs as this worldwide overdose crisis continues."This year we made t-shirts that say "Empathy over Stigma" for our event," said Foster. "With this event we hope to fight stigma by humanizing the poisoned drug crisis, educating folks about what supports are available, sharing perspectives from people with lived and living experience of substance use, and promoting positive interventions. We don't have all the answers but we aim to bring people together to look toward the future with hope."
