Statement on International Overdose Awareness Day
For immediate release
August 31, 2017
Victoria – Andrew Weaver, Leader of the B.C. Green caucus and MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, and Sonia Furstenau, MLA for Cowichan Valley, have issued the following statement to mark International Overdose Awareness Day:
“Today marks International Overdose Awareness Day, a global event held to raise awareness of overdose, reduce the stigma, and acknowledge the personal responsibility we all have to support our community members in need,” said MLA Weaver.
“One life lost is heartbreaking; the scale of this emergency can hardly be articulated in a way that respects and represents the grief felt around B.C.
“Fentanyl-related overdoses are happening all over the province and our ridings are no exception. The reach and magnitude of this crisis has been tragic. The fact that it has only continued to escalate since the B.C. Ministry of Health declared it a public health emergency over a year ago is horrific in its own right.”
MLA Furstenau continued, “We remember all those who have lost their lives to this epidemic and stand with the families, friends, and loved ones who mourn their loss.
“We must use compassion and understanding in approaching this issue. We must reduce the stigma and shame too often associated with addiction. Addiction is a health issue and must be treated as such.
“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to people struggling with addiction, the families and friends of drug-dependent loved ones, frontline workers, and the medical community. In our public and private lives, we commit to listening to you, learning from you, and doing everything we can to build a path out of this crisis.”
-30-
Media contact
Sarah Miller, Acting Press Secretary
+1 250-858-9891 | sarah.miller@leg.bc.ca
Comments are closed.