COURTENAY, B.C. – Today’s International Overdose Awareness Day event in downtown Courtenay will be one to remember.
Hosted by AVI and AAHA (Addicts and Allies Humanizing Addiction) one of the purposes of the the free event it to reflect upon and remember those lost to overdoses in B.C. and across Canada.
From 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., all are welcome to the corner of 5th Street and England Avenue, where they can learn how to prevent an overdose. Naloxone kits will be available on site.
The event is part of International Overdose Awareness Day, a global awareness event happening today (Aug. 31).
There were 134 suspected drug overdose deaths in B.C. in July, marking a 12 percent increase over the number of deaths in July 2017 (120) and a 25 percent jump from the number of deaths in June 2018 (107), according to a BC Coroners Service report.
The number of illicit drug overdose deaths in July 2018 equates to about 4.3 deaths per day.
In northern Vancouver Island, there were 17 overdose deaths from Jan. 1 to July 31 of this year.
Vancouver, Surrey,and Victoria had highest number of illicit drug overdose deaths over the first six months of 2018.
