Mar 24, 2021
Episode 6 of the third annual Harm Reduction Symposium featuring a reflection of the past year and a reading of the names of everybody who we've lost in the past year.
In Memoriam:
Britt
Norm
Shawn
Ashley
Erin
Tara
Travis
Robyn
Terry
John
Stephan
Todd
Joanne
Bobby
Alex
Toby
Liza
Christina
Vicky
Ron
Donna
Tyler
Stephan
Colin
David
Michael
Ryan
Erin
Travis
Steven
Tara
Eli
Skylar
Mitch
Kim
Amber
Shane
Sara-Jane
JP
Nadine
Tonya
Jeff
Brandon
Edward
Janet
Barry
Cassie
Ashley
Krista
Rose
Tania
Mandy
Lee
Dusty
Lexi
Rhondda
Ronnie
Mitchell
Sara Jane
Kyle
Ronnie
Harold
Dawn
Michael
Tcoy
Caleb
Neil
Danny
Mathew
Julien
Steven
Craig
Tammy
Lori
Jessie
Allain
Patrick
Norman
Kristen
Robby
Dusty
Sharon
Michael
Martin
Chuck
Alex
Doug
Todd
Kyle
Donna
Ricky
Eric
Stephen
Clifford
Tyrell
Sean
Duncan
Daryl
Randy
Tyler
Eric
Sheila
Jeannie
Matt
Billy
Malcolm
Mike
Mya
Stephen
Jason
Troy
Jordan
John
Mike
Daryl
Dee-Dee
Nevin
The Harm Reduction Symposium will bring together many stakeholders to raise awareness, educate, and enhance harm reduction collaboration.
CALL TO ACTION:
As a community, it is our responsibility to improve the lives of those impacted by problematic substance use. To achieve this, we need to reduce stigma, increase community collaboration, and influence systematic changes.
Impact of Drug Use in Canada:
The opioid crisis continues to claim the lives of Canadians. 17,602 apparent opioid-related deaths occurred between January 2016 and June 2020.
1,628 apparent opioid toxicity deaths occurred between April and June 2020, representing the highest quarterly count since national surveillance began in 2016.
In Canada, more than 12 deaths per day are due to the opioid crisis.
New Brunswick is reported to have the second highest prevalence of injection drug use in the country, second only to British Columbia. A large spike in overdose deaths has been observed as the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved and an increase in deaths among People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) has been felt across the country. This was also noted by the Saint John Police Force in mid-October. The warning was extended to advocacy groups in southern New Brunswick following several months of observation during the pandemic. In general, PWUD have been more vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to poor health literacy and stigma and discrimination. In this setting there have been calls for decriminalization and increased access to safe supply.
It is time to encourage community capacity building to address these complex issues. The Harm Reduction Symposium will provide a platform to discuss innovative and sustainable approaches.
The 3rd annual Harm Reduction Symposium will bring together many stakeholders to raise awareness, educate, and enhance harm reduction collaboration.