The Saamis Tepee is lit purple to mark International Overdose awareness day on August 31 ( submitted photo/Kym Porter)

By Tiffany Goodwein

48 overdose deaths since 2016

International Overdose Awareness Day is August 31

Aug 30, 2020 | 6:21 PM

MEDICINE, HAT AB- If you have driven past the Saamis Tepee at night lately you may have noticed the tepee has a purple glow to it. The distinctive colour, is all in part to mark International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31.

“The purpose of International Overdose Awareness day is to honour those lives that have been lost to a fatal overdose, to acknowledge the crisis as well as to hopefully try to change the stigma around people who use drugs,” Medicine Hat Drug Coalition member Kym Porter said.

The Tepee will carry its purple glow for a week– significant because First Nations Canadians suffer three times the amount of deaths from overdose, according to Porter.

Communities around the world will be coming together to mark the day and Medicine Hat is no exception with events planned all day downtown at the Rite Downtown Garden Centre, across the street from the Station Coffee House.

“The event starts at 11 a.m. and goes until dusk. People can come down and get trained in how to use Naloxone. Naloxone is a drug that can be given to reverse the signs of an opioid overdose. We will have information, we will also have a number of T-shirts saying #endoverdose that are going to be free for the first number of people that show up.” Porter said.

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

Dec 14, 2024

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

A candlelight vigil is also planned in the evening to honour those who have been lost to overdose.

According to Porter, there have been 48 lives lost in Medicine Hat to fatal overdoses since 2016.

One of those lives lost was her son Neil Balmer who died by a fatal overdose in 2016.

“My son was 31 when he died. He had struggled for a number of years. He also had some mental health issues. He struggled with depression and anxiety and he hid it he pretended to be what people thought was the life of the party, until his emotional pain became so intense that he couldn’t imagine living any longer,” she said.

Porter says the ability to open and truthful conversations about the overdose crisis is crucial.

“People are feeling disconnected especially with COVID-19 right now, there’s a disconnect. People are feeling hopeless. If someone is struggling with their substance use as well as if they also struggle with their mental health, the layers of shame can almost feel too much for them to feel they can get out from under.” she said.

People from all walks of life will be at the event to educate and inform the public about the ongoing overdose crisis.