As B.C.’s overdose crisis rages on, more overdose prevention workshops are on tap over in the Comox Valley this summer.
The City of Courtenay and AVI Health and Community Service have partnered to offer free workshops on July 20th and August 18th.
They’ll be at the Florence Filberg Centre Rotary Hall, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
Recognizing an overdose (both opioid and stimulant), proper disposal of sharps, and hands-on Naloxone training will be covered during these workshops.
Organizers will also share the most effective way to save a life in case of an opioid overdose. Participants won’t be leaving empty-handed either, being given a free Naloxone kit for their home or workplace.
To register, visit courtenay.ca/reconline. You can also sign-up by calling (250) 338-5371 or (250) 338-1000.
Earlier this year, Island Health reported a jump in overdoses on Vancouver Island due to toxic drug supply. It said opioids and stimulants were to blame, with an increased risk with both injection and inhalation.
With this in mind, they issued overdose advisories in a handful of communities, including the Comox Valley, Campbell River, and Nanaimo.
The overdose public health emergency, declared in 2016, has claimed the lives of almost 7,000 B.C.’ers. Last year was the worst year on record, officials noted, with over 17,000 overdose events. According to the BC Centre for Disease Control, illicit drug toxicity deaths in 2020 surpassed combined deaths from car crashes, suicide, and homicide.
