Posted on September 16, 2024
International Overdose Awareness Day 2024
Our event was held at Blue Mountain Park decorated with purple scarves, ribbons and flags. We had ACCESS Youth, Wondrous Tree Fellowship, NaloxHome, Curtis Dream Car, Fraser Health OOT team, Talitha Koum Society and Spirit of the Children attend. Our focus was breaking down stigmas, creative expressions, interactive education and awareness (which fits with the 4 pillars that TC CAT stands on).
Tri-Cities Community TV - https://youtu.be/IjPAZwWr6T4?si=KhC6ZXW-3h-DmvVO
Creative Expressions included:
Creative Expressions of Social Justice - Series of Events
As one of our pillars, we focus on creative engagements of social justice, recognizing the profound impact that art can have on igniting conversations, challenging norms, and inspiring change. Social justice art serves as a powerful tool to amplify marginalized voices, shed light on systemic injustices, and foster empathy and understanding. Through visual storytelling, performance, music, and other creative expressions, we aim to engage communities in critical dialogue, promote healing, and empower individuals to take action toward a more just and equitable world.
1. Black Balloon Day: Remembering Lives Lost
Black Balloon Day, held annually on March 6th, honors the lives lost to overdose and raises awareness about the opioid crisis. Originating in 2015 as a family's tribute, the black balloon symbolizes remembrance and solidarity. This day encourages conversations about addiction, reduces stigma, and advocates for support and prevention efforts.
This year, the Tri-Cities Community Action Team commemorated Black Balloon Day at the Coquitlam Public Library, inviting the community to participate in a powerful art project. Together, they painted a mural depicting 7 balloons, symbolizing the 7 lives tragically lost each day to the toxic drug crisis. The image was then deconstructed into puzzle pieces, allowing each participant to contribute a part of the whole, to be later reassembled as a unified testament to remembrance and hope. This poignant act reflects the devastating impact of the crisis, with over 14,000 lives lost in the past 8 years - each balloon representing 2,000 lives and 2,000 families forever altered.
2. ACCESS Youth Art Journaling
ACCESS Youth Services' 8-week after-school art journaling program provides a safe and creative space for young people to explore important conversations around mental health, substance use, boundaries, empowerment, suicide, and other challenging topics. Each week, new art techniques are paired with open discussions, providing diverse ways for youth to cope and express themselves.
One of the weeks focused on substance use and misuse. Youth identified familiar substances and their effects, discussed the current drug crisis, and learned harm reduction strategies. Crucially, they learned how to respond to someone experiencing an overdose, emphasizing the importance of calling 911.
A collage art project allowed participants to express their understanding of substances through visual messaging, incorporating images, words, and letters to convey their learnings, experiences, and messages. This creative outlet fostered deeper engagement and reflection on the complexities of substance use, empowering youth to navigate these challenges with knowledge and resilience.
3. Community Engagement Mural: An Angel or an Angel
This year's art engagement carries a powerful duality. It serves as a poignant memorial to the countless lives lost to the toxic drug crisis - brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, friends, peers, and neighbors. Each brushstroke and artistic expression pays tribute to their memory and the profound impact of their absence.
Yet, within this remembrance lies a glimmer of hope. The art also embodies the potential for change and healing. It reminds us that when we unite as a community, offering compassion, guidance, and support, we can prevent these tragic deaths. The image of an angel represents both a guardian watching over those lost and a symbol of the life-saving interventions that are possible.
Whether you perceive the art as a memorial or a call to action, its message is clear: together, we can make a difference.
Why a Butterfly?
Butterflies symbolize transformation, resilience, and the preciousness of life, resonating with the journey of recovery and the fragility of those struggling with addiction. Their freedom evokes breaking free from addiction, while their spiritual symbolism honors loved ones lost. Butterflies beautifully encapsulate the complexities of overdose awareness, combining remembrance, hope, and the enduring human spirit.
Transformation & Resilience: The butterfly's metamorphosis from a caterpillar to a beautiful winged creature mirrors the journey of recovery from addiction. It represents transformation, resilience, and the potential for new life even after experiencing hardship.
Fragility & Preciousness of Life: Butterflies are delicate creatures, symbolizing the fragility and preciousness of life. This resonates with the understanding that those struggling with addiction are vulnerable, and their lives are valuable and worth saving.
Freedom & Release: The butterfly's ability to fly freely evokes a sense of release and liberation. This can symbolize breaking free from the chains of addiction and finding hope and healing.
Spiritual Symbolism: In many cultures, butterflies hold spiritual significance, representing the soul or spirit. Releasing butterflies can be seen as a way to honor the memory of loved ones lost to overdose and send their spirits soaring.
4. Rocks of Inspiration and Hope
International Overdose Awareness Day is about remembering those we've lost, but it's also about finding hope. We're inviting you to get creative and paint a rock with a positive message. Maybe it's a word that helps you stay strong, or something to inspire someone who might find it. It's like leaving a little bit of light in the world.
Think of words like "believe", "hope", "love", or anything that feels right. Together, we can spread some positivity an
Other Activities Included:
1. An opening smudging and cleanse with Spirit of the Children Society
2. A silent march around the park (with signs and purple hearts) in honor of the lives lost
3. Purple Chair campaign with the memorial tree (people placed loved ones names on the tree)
4. Tree Meditation with the Wondrous Tree Fellowship (a grounding exercise)
5. Naloxone Training with the Fraser Health Overdose Outreach Team
6. Circle time story sharing with Talitha Koum Society and open to the public. Stories of loss, recovery, and support.