The Manitoba government has proclaimed August 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day to acknowledge Manitobans whose lives have been lost to drug poisoning and raise awareness of the risks of drug use.
“In 2023, 445 lives were lost due to substance use in Manitoba and 171 deaths have already been reported between January and April of this year,” said Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith, minister responsible for mental health. “These are not just numbers. They are our loved ones, friends, neighbours, partners, parents and children. This International Overdose Awareness Day, I remind Manitobans to take the time to acknowledge the grief felt by families, friends and communities when remembering those who have died or who have been permanently injured because of drug poisoning.”
The minister recognized Arlene Last-Kolb, as well as the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network, for their advocacy work over many years at today’s event, which took place in conjunction with the network’s annual Harm Reduction Fair on the Manitoba Legislative Building grounds.
“Today, as we remember our loved ones, we also honour those in the harm reduction movement,” said Shohan Illsley, executive director, Manitoba Harm Reduction Network. “We honour the community members, peers, drug experts and service providers who have been on the front lines of this crisis. We honour those who did not sign up to save lives but continue to show up every day. We see you and we love you. We all love someone who uses drugs and we are hopeful as we move forward with leadership that is committed to evidence-based interventions that save lives.”
The minister also unveiled a showy mountain ash tree that was planted on the northwest side of the Manitoba Legislative Building grounds earlier this week in honour of those who have died or who have been permanently injured by drug poisoning.
The minister noted the Manitoba government is committed to reducing harm from drug use using an evidence-based approach, including partnering with the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre of Winnipeg to support the development of an Indigenous-led supervised consumption site in Winnipeg, and introducing drug-checking services that provide life-saving information about potentially harmful contaminants in street drugs.
“I am hopeful that Manitoba’s newest drug-checking services and its first supervised consumption site will offer a new essential service, and tools to embed more compassionate care in our response to the overdose and toxic drug crisis,” said Smith.
International Overdose Awareness Day is a global initiative that aims to end overdoses, remember those who have died due to a drug poisoning or overdose and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind. This year’s theme is ‘Together We Can’, which highlights the power the community and province holds in working together to affect change for those most in need across Manitoba.
For more information about mental health and addictions services in Manitoba, visit gov.mb.ca.
