City of Hamilton strives to raise overdose awareness while remembering lives lost

Hamilton’s public health department marked International Overdose Awareness day Thursday afternoon, with the theme ‘time to remember, time to act.’

More than 25 community organizations gathered at city hall to provide residents with information about resources that are available in the community.

A memorial board was also put up outside for residents to post pictures, poems, and tributes to loved ones lost due to overdose.

According to the City of Hamilton website, between August 21 and 27, 47 patients went to emergency departments for drug misuse or overdoses.

Dr. Laura Bourns says the 911 calls just keep coming in.

“We know that we’re getting about thirty to forty a month on average.”

Bourns says public health wants to raise awareness about the risk of overdose death and what can be done to prevent it.

“Not only about careful use, not using alone if you are using but also about carrying Naloxone so that if there is an overdose situation then Naloxone can be used to revive someone,” she said.

She adds, even if Naloxone is used, it’s important that people recognize that an ambulance still needs to be called.

More than 900 Naloxone kits have been distributed in Hamilton this year.

Bourns says additional funding from the province will soon mean that more community organizations and emergency departments will also be equipped.

Consideration is also being given to the creation of supervised injections sites in the city, as has been done in other municipalities.

Public health is currently conducting a needs assessment and feasibility study, according to Bourns.

“Every community is different so we want to make sure that if we are recommending a site or sites, that the place is going to be used and that it meets the needs of the community.”

The study is expected to go before the board of health before the end of the year.