THE Big Banana glowed purple on Sunday 31 August as a sign of awareness, remembrance and hope on International Overdose Awareness Day.
More than 2000 Australians lose their lives each year to unintentional overdose.
This is more than the number of people killed in road accidents each year.
Overdose isn’t about one drug or one group of people; an unintended overdose can happen to anyone.
It is an often overlooked issue and carries with it a stigma.
Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) Alcohol and Other Drugs Service Clinical Director Dr Tony Gill, said instances of overdose have dramatically increased over the last 20 years.
“The increased use of prescription medications has been a significant contributing factor.
“People may accidentally take the wrong dose, combine medications in dangerous ways, or take them at the wrong time.
“These situations are often unintentional, and they can happen to people from all walks of life.”
Dr Gill said International Overdose Awareness Day was an opportunity to acknowledge loss and raise awareness, so more people understand what an overdose looks like and how to help.
“By reducing stigma, we can empower families, friends and community members to seek support and access lifesaving tools.”
As part of the campaign, MNCLHD hosted a harm reduction workshop in Kempsey for local service providers and health workers, covering drug and alcohol use trends, how to recognise and prevent overdose, the impact of stigma, and practical harm reduction strategies.
Community members can also access naloxone, a medicine that can reverse the effects of opioid overdose and save lives.
It is available as a nasal spray or as an intramuscular injection and is free under the Australian Government’s Take Home Naloxone program through community pharmacies and directly from trained MNCLHD Drug and Alcohol staff.
Naloxone is also available for home delivery via NUAA’s Take-Home Naloxone postal pilot service.
The medicine is for people at risk of witnessing or experiencing an opioid overdose.
By Andrea FERRARI
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