“We Love All of You, We Hear You, And We’re Here for You.” Guelph Gathers Again to End the Stigma

“My name is Nicolas. I’m an addict. I’ve done fentanyl, I’ve done meth, I’ve done every drug out there, but I am not a bad person.” If there was an overarching sentiment on the sixth annual Drug Poisoning Awareness Day (formally Overdose Awareness Day), it was that. Several community members took part and offered words of remembrance, words of caring, and words of desire that we further advance the cause of ending overdose deaths. Continue reading ““We Love All of You, We Hear You, And We’re Here for You.” Guelph Gathers Again to End the Stigma”

Public Health Issues Warning After 17 Drug Poisoning

A late-summer warning to people in the Guelph area that use substances from the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy, there’s been a drastic increase in the number of drug poisonings in the last few weeks. According to the WGDS, there have been 17 drug poisoning in the last two weeks, including four suspected drug-related deaths. The potential cause is the appearance of light purple-coloured fentanyl. Continue reading “Public Health Issues Warning After 17 Drug Poisoning”

Hope and Healing at the Commemoration of Overdose Awareness Day

“International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.” That’s what the day is officially about, but it means something different to everyone who’s experienced loss caused by the drug crisis. All those experiences were marked today in a packed event in St. George’s Square. Continue reading “Hope and Healing at the Commemoration of Overdose Awareness Day”

Less Stigma, More Support the Message on Overdose Awareness Day

On Tuesday, many communities around the world marked International Overdose Awareness Day, a chance to campaign to end drug overdoses, and remember without stigma the people who have died as well as the family they all left behind. In Guelph, a few hundred people gathered in St. George’s Square at lunch hour to remember another pandemic that has only gotten worse since COVID-19 hit our shores last year. Continue reading “Less Stigma, More Support the Message on Overdose Awareness Day”