Groups, individuals working for harm reduction

• apps such as the Lifeguard alerting system for witnessing substance use and preventing an overdose

• overdose teams that work with individuals requiring access to the unregulated drug supply and who are at risk of drug poisoning,

• opioid agonist treatment clinics, offering drug replacement therapy

Tri-Cities Mental Health and Substance Youth Centre in Port Coquitlam connects adults with services, she said, and the START (Short-term Assessment Response Team) in Port Moody offers mental health and substance use services for youth

However, she said, there are many factors making it difficult to put an end to the toxic drug overdose crisis.

Stigma Remains

Mental health has been deteriorating on a per capita basis since 2016, a condition strongly linked to substance use. At the same time, there remains a lot of stigma around both individual mental health issues and substance use, she said.

“This crisis doesn’t discriminate between various levels of society. We hear heartbreaking stores from neighbours, colleagues and friends that bring home the challenges that our society is currently facing here”

One local group that is trying hard to end stigma is the Tri-Cities Community Action Team (TCCAT), a group of community leaders and health care providers, who work on projects to put the toxic drug situation and its harms into peoples’ consciousness

They do this by holding campaigns such as one that recently saw 1,200 flags erected in Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, representing the more than 2,200 B.C. toxic drug deaths in 2022.

“We aim to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use through creative expressions, interactive education and connecting resources Whether this be at community events, on the side of the road, at youth centres, through speech, or providing a safe space to share stories,” said program manager Roxanne Saxon.

Among the organizations supporting TCCAT is the Vancouver Island Construction Association which is promoting harm reduction strategies for construction workers with its Tailgate Toolkit

Harm Reduction

Saxon acknowledged that some people are initially uncomfortable

Recovery is pointless if someone has already died, she said.

Goodison, a Port Moody resident who started NaloxHome presentations in School District 43, said education is key to getting out the message about B.C’s drug crisis and preventing more toxic drug deaths

She said armed with information and understanding, young people go from being dispassionate bystanders to active participants and carrying naloxone kits with them.

“What ever we need to do to keep people alive long enough for them to choose to get better that’s what we will do.”

Reno Challenge

TRI-CITY NEWS FILE PHOTO

Above, Port Moody’s Chloe Goodison has been educating students and members of the community how to carry and use naloxone kits to help prevent deaths from toxic drugs.

DIANE STRANDBERG/TRI-CITY

NEWS

Left, program manager Roxanne Saxon at the TriCities Community Action Team (TCCAT) says it’s important to keep the toxic drug problem in the public consciousness and help reduce its stigma through initiatives like the recent placement of 1,200 purple flags in busy locations in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody with the harm reduction message promoted by the group, but said they might change their minds if they knew it can save lives

For Chloe Goodison, there is a sense of urgency in breaking down stigma and dealing with the fact that many people use opioids and harm reduction strategies may be the quickest way to save lives.

The third annual Reno Kindness Challenge will take place Aug. 9, 2023, in Lions Park.

The purpose, according to Ruckman, is to “inspire people to give love and connect to others through acts of kindness. Our goal is to reduce stigma and bring awareness to mental health and substance-use issues. By giving kindness to others, we create a network of support where we can foster empathy and compassion in our communities”

Find out more about The Reno Kindness Challenge on Instagram

How To Get Help

If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 If you need help with substance abuse, call the B.C government’s alcohol and drug information and referral service at 1-800-663-1441. It’s available 24 hours a day.