August 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day and an opportunity for our community to talk about how to better address the risks associated with an illicit drug market and the stigma that we still attach to drug use and addiction.

The goal of International Overdose Awareness Day is “to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death, especially for those mourning the loss of family and friends. It also spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable.” Started by an outreach worker in Australia in 2001, the event has grown to include participation from government leaders, health services, families and individuals impacted and affected by overdose (www.overdoseday.com).

This year in Victoria, the Victoria AIDS Resource & Community Service Society (VARCS), the Society of Living Illicit Drug Users (SOLID), Cool Aid Society and AIDS Vanvoucer Island (AVI) invite you to join them on Friday, August 30 on boulevard by Our Place on Pandora to gather in a call for action for improved health services for people who use drugs and to remember those who have lost their lives to overdose.

Artistic contributions are welcome to be displayed during the event. Please bring your art to the Pandora Green at 10am on August 30 or drop off beforehand at AVI (3rd Floor – Access Health Centre, 731 Johnson Street) or SOLID (857 Caledonia Avenue). For more information about the event, please call Sarah or Brittney at VARCS [250-388-6220] or Ashley at SOLID [250-298-9497]. Join the event on Facebook!

*HUGE thanks to Heather at AVI who pulled the content for this blog post together.*