Every life lost from an overdose matters.
They are our neighbours, loved ones, and friends; their stories should be shared, and their names remembered, says Laurie Hicks.
“We talk about Ryan every day,” Hicks says of her son who died of a fentanyl overdose in 2015, at age 25. “Losing a son or daughter is the most tragic thing you can go though.. but we know we are not alone.”
Hicks, a longtime advocate for stronger addiction services and awareness, says she hears stories, similar to her own, all the time.
“It’s important to take the time and remember everyone,” she said, pointing to the annual International Overdose Awareness Day memorial, happening Thursday, Aug. 29 at Centennial Park.
It is the world's largest annual campaign to end overdoses, reduce stigma, remember those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind.
The event invites residents impacted by overdose to honour their loved ones in a safe space, share stories, and help raise awareness through education and resources.
“It’s a very quiet, peaceful evening at the river,” Hicks said of the event, now in its fourth year. “It’s a beautiful thing to see all of the people who come to honour their loved ones.”
While we’ve come a long way, there’s still too much stigma around the way we talk about substance abuse, addiction and overdose, Hicks said.
And that can be a barrier to those seeking help, explained Donna Morreau, Integrated Director, Mental Health & Addiction Services.
She says the number of residents accessing the hospital’s addiction services continues to climb; adding that keeping up with the demand, coupled with a limited number of withdrawal management beds, is “a challenge.”
Last year, 36 people died due to opioid poisoning, according to preliminary data from Lambton Public Health; the death rate in Lambton has been higher than Ontario since 2019. Meanwhile, local emergency department visits related to opioid overdose have been double the rates of the province, said Morreau.
The overdose crisis continues to claim the lives of more than 20 Canadians every single day, with unregulated drug toxicity deaths accounting for more deaths than homicides, suicides, accidents, and natural disease combined, according to the Government of Canada. Between January 2016 and September 2023, there were more than 42,000 opioid toxicity deaths in Canada.
“There shouldn’t be any shame when we talk about addiction and overdose,” she said. “And there’s no shame in reaching out to seek help.”
The International Overdose Awareness Day memorial event, hosted by Bluewater Health, takes place Thursday, Aug. 29 at Centennial Park, by the MacPherson Fountain, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Information and naloxone kits will be available.
For more information on harm reduction, visit https://lambtonpublichealth.ca/harm-reduction/.
For more on Bluewater Health Mental Health & Addiction Services, click here.