International Overdose Awareness Day

The campaign raises awareness of overdose, which is one of the world's worst public health crises, and stimulates action and discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy. The campaign acknowledges the profound grief felt by families and friends whose loved ones have died or suffered permanent injury from a drug overdose. International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message about the tragedy of drug overdose death and that drug overdose is preventable.

On the evening of the 31^st of August, a number of buildings will be lit in purple across Dumfries and Galloway to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, these are: Castle of St Johns Stranraer, Castle Douglas Parish Church,  Council Offices, English Street, The Crichton Church, St Brides Anglican Church (Greyfriars), Devorgilla Bridge and  Annan Old Parish Church.  This is in remembrance of those who have died due to a drug related death and acknowledge the grief of the families and friends left behind.

The goals of International Overdose Awareness Day are:

• To provide an opportunity for people to publicly mourn loved ones in a safe environment, some for the first time without feeling guilt or shame.
• To include the greatest number of people in International Overdose Awareness Day events, and encourage non-denominational involvement.
• To give community members information about the issue of fatal and non-fatal overdose.
• To send a strong message to current and former people who use drugs that they are valued.
• To stimulate discussion about overdose prevention and drug policy.
• To provide basic information on the range of support services that are available.
• To prevent and reduce drug-related harm by supporting evidence-based policy and practice.
• To inform people around the world about the risk of overdose.

On the 31^st of August between 11:00am - 3:00pm, staff from ADS Being There family support service and We are With You will be available at four locations across the region with members of the ADP support team. These locations will be; We are With You - Dumfries; St Ringans Parish Church - Castle Douglas; Old Parish Church - Annan; and The Baptist Church - Stranraer.

At these locations, information packs on overdose awareness, harm reduction and contact details for local support services will be available to members of the public. Also available will be purple ribbons, which we would like to encourage individuals, families and members of the community to tie a ribbon at these locations for those who have lost their lives to a drug related death.  

The campaign will also run across the ADP Facebook and Twitter pages. Partner agencies will also be requested to carry much of the content as possible. The links to the ADP Twitter and Facebook pages are included below:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ActionondrugsandaclcoholDumfriesandGalloway 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ADPDUMGAL

It is important that staff and volunteers support drug and alcohol users in Dumfries and Galloway, and their friends and family, to attend these locations on the 31^st of August, if they wish to pay their respects.

Alongside this, it is vital for staff and volunteers to continue to urge drug and alcohol users in Dumfries and Galloway to take steps to protect themselves.  These simple steps include:

• Don't drugs alone - most suspected fatal overdoses have involved someone taking drugs alone. Taking drugs alone increases the chance of fatally overdosing, because there is no one to call for help in an emergency.  
• Don't take a combination of drugs, drugs that haven't been prescribed and or drugs that may have been bought over the internet.  This includes alcohol and prescribed medication.  Mixing drugs greatly increases the risk of overdose, particularly if you don't know exactly what they are or what effect they will have. 
• Don't try new substances or increase or reduce the quantity of drugs or alcohol being regularly taken without support from your GP or Drug and Alcohol treatment Service.  If trying any new substances, try a very small amount at first, so you know how it might affect you.
• Get a Naloxone kit.  Naloxone is a medication that temporarily reverses the effects of a heroin or other opioid overdose and allows time for someone to seek emergency help.  Friends and family can also get a Naloxone kit. 
• Dial 999 immediately if you believe that someone is having an overdose or if you feel unwell after taking any drugs.  When someone has overdosed, they can look and sound like they are simply asleep.  Always check when you hear snoring that the person is actually asleep. 

Further information on other websites and local drug and alcohol services that can help, along with other more detailed guidance can be found on the Dumfries and Galloway Alcohol and Drug Partnership website at www.stopdgdrugdeaths.co.uk