Not The Drug Of Choice
By John Swartz
If there is one thing we all share in common it is we are not alone. A son, daughter, mother, father, close relative, distant relative, friend, acquaintance – we all know someone who died because of an opioid. Too many people can say they know of several who have died, not just one person.
It’s often referred to as an overdose, but the truth is, many who died didn’t know there was an opioid mixed in with whatever other drug, recreational or otherwise, they were using.
There is no safe amount of Fentanyl or Carfentanil on the black market. Marijuana isn’t supposed to have even a trace amount, yet some jerks add it to the leaf. They do it to give an extra kick, hoping to gain a regular customer by selling ‘better’ weed. Others add it to cocaine, heroin or any other drug you can think of for the same reason.
The extra kick has been fatal thousands of times.
The other common thing connecting all the deceased, they all had mothers.
Simcoe Moms for Overdose Awareness (SMFOA) is having an event, Orillia Talks: Simcoe Moms Raising Awareness February 19 at the Geneva Event Centre from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The group claims 14,000 people died from opioids between January 2016 and December 2019.
Some who die are addicted to a drug. Sometimes addicted because a prescription for painkillers ended and the pain still exists, so they turned to the street, got hooked on something else and one time they bought the wrong stuff.
Or they are recovering addicts. They pride themselves on being clean for some period of time. But a moment of weakness, just this once, they think they can give it a go for a night out. Sometimes they been off drugs so long they no longer have a regular connection and buy their drug of choice from someone they don’t really know who ends up killing them.
Others have mental issues, flirting with suicide, turning to drugs to dull the mind. The SMFOA would like everyone to also visit the Canadian Mental Health Association Simcoe County website for education and resource information.
The members of SMFOA have lost their children and formed to support each other, to get local support and advocate all levels of government declare an emergency. They have started a petition to get some action.
Five mothers will share their stories at the event. SMFOA is starting a poster and banner advertising campaign called the Forever Campaign as well.
The county group works with a national network called Moms Stop The Harm which believes people who use drugs should not be criminalized and the war on drugs should end. They believe the approach should be one to reduce harm.
Local service agencies will be represented and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit will demonstrate how to use naloxone kits, which people have to participate in if they want to take a free kit with them. All are welcome and the will be appetizers/refreshments. For more information or to find out how to have your service represented email holistichealingfair@gmail.com.
(Image by SUNonline/Orillia – Pixabay)