This coming Monday, August 31, marks International Overdose Awareness Day 2015. In recognition of this the WA Substance Users’ Association (WASUA) and Hepatitis WA (HepWA) are collaboratively for an event that will recognise and remember those lost and affected by drug overdose.
It's a horrifying statistic that nearly four Australians die every day from opioid overdose. WA currently has the highest per-capita rate of accidental fatal overdose in the country, despite 60 per cent of fatal opioid overdoses occurring while someone else was present. As a community we need to raise awareness to reduce the amount of injury, death and suffering overdoses cause.
On Monday WASUA and HepWA will hold a free community BBQ from 1pm-3pm in Hyde Park, near the Memorial Tree at the Lake Street entrance in Highgate.
A stall with information on the harms and effects of opioid and other drug use will be on site, with pamphlets to assist you to recognise and respond to overdose, and information on naloxone (Narcan) the drug that reverses the effects of opioid overdose. You can also find out how to become involved with the successful WA Peer-administered Naloxone Project.
Friends, family and all community members are welcome to attend and acknowledge those who have been lost to overdose and write a tribute message to hang in the Memorial Tree.
