International Overdose Awareness Day is on the horizon and a local group has planned various events to mark the sombre occasion.
The latest statistics by the BC Coroners Service for 2024 are only available until April, but within that time period 16 people have died from the use of unregulated drugs in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
An all-time high of 53 people died in 2023, a number that has been increasing since 2016 when this data started being recorded.
Because of this Stop Overdose Ridge Meadows, or STORM, is hosting two community events to educate the public on the drug crisis and to showcase the supports and services being offered in the community.
The first event on the lead up to Overdose Awareness Day is a free screening of the locally produced and filmed documentary titled 'Toxic'.
"This film looks at the opioid crisis, particularly in the Downtown Eastside, and features peer voice, including Internationally recognized speaker and harm reduction advocate Guy Felicella," explained STORM project coordinator Jerrica Hackett.
'Toxic' is an opioid crisis documentary based in Vancouver, B.C., directed by Robert Colbourne.
The screening will be held at the Hollywood 3 cinema at 19190 Lougheed Hwy. in Pitt Meadows at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29. Tickets include popcorn and a drink, but must be reserved online ahead of time, as seats are limited.
To reserve tickets go to https://www.stopoverdoseridgemeadows.ca/.
Two days later, on International Overdose Awareness Day, Saturday, Aug. 31, STORM will be hosting an event in Memorial Peace Park.
The event will run from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and will feature words from Guy Felicella, as well as Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Bob D'Eith.
"We will have resource booths featuring our community partners, showcasing the support and services offered in our community. The event will also have an open mic portion, to allow folks to share their thoughts and feelings, and honour their loved ones," said Hackett.
Felicella, a peer clinical advisor for the B.C. Centre on Substance Use Vancouver Coastal Health’s Regional Addiction Program and the Provincial Overdose Emergency Response Centre, fell into a cycle of addiction, gangs, jail, and recovery – a cycle he would repeat for 30 years of his life.
He credits harm reduction to his success of kicking drugs and getting his life back together again.
Purple lights are also being handed out to the community to light the night purple on the eve or Overdose Awareness Day.
Called 'The Purple Project', the group is hoping local businesses, churches, and individuals will pick up some lights to light up the night in the official colour of Overdose Awareness Day.
The free lights can be picked up at:
• Food For The Soul, 22335 Lougheed Hwy.;
• Alouette Addictions, 22838 Lougheed Hwy.;
• The Create Shop, 22550 Dewdney Trunk Rd.;
• and Foundry Ridge Meadows, 22932 Lougheed Hwy.
The Ridge Meadows Overdose Community Action Team behind STORM is a multi-sector group of municipal and community partners. It is made up of individuals from Alouette Addictions, Fraser Health, RainCity Housing, the Salvation Army, School District 42, and others. The group’s main goal is to work together to develop a community-based response to opioid overdose crisis, identify challenges and address gaps as they arise, and increase community wide compassion, engagement and inclusion.
More information can be found at: stopoverdoseridgemeadows.ca or on social media at: @stopoverdoserm.
