Today on International Overdose Awareness Day, our BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital Health Centre community would like to acknowledge the lives lost to illicit drug toxicity in our province, and across the world.
Since a public health emergency was first declared in B.C. in April 2016, over 15,000 people have lost their lives due to illicit drug toxicity. The theme this year is ‘Together We Can’- a poignant reminder to us all- health professionals, families, friends, community members- that we must stand together in response to this relentless crisis that has ended the lives of children, youth and adults from across the province. Every small step individuals take can have significant and life-changing impacts on others.
📖 Educate yourself- there are countless resources available on Towards the Heart (https://lnkd.in/gDKXecA7) , including information on how to identify and respond to an overdose.
Treat people who use substances with compassion and understanding- Judgement and stigma can stop individuals from seeking care and support; this can result in devastating consequences.
Connect people with supports: This week, the province announced a new, BC-wide Opioid Treatment Access Line to increase access to life-saving opioid agonist medications and better connect people to care and resources. The access line is open to anyone living in BC at 1-833-804-8111.
Earlier this week, our hospital community came together for a memorial event to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, and to grieve the lives lost to this crisis. Staff and providers wrote the names of the people they love and have lost to illicit drug toxicity on stones, which were placed under a memorial tree.
#internationaloverdoseawarenessday #bcchildrens #bcwomens #togetherwecan
