Interior Health has launched a new website they hope will curb the number of overdose deaths among those who are using drugs alone.
The website anonymously provides people with options to take a survey, be interviewed by phone or meet in-person and the aim is to learn from those who use drugs alone, so Interior Health can better understand potential actions people might consider to reduce the risk of overdose.
鈥淢y little brother died of an overdose,鈥� said Jason Wills, at a press conference held Thursday. 鈥淗e was an amazing brother, son and friend. We loved him and his drug use killed him. I鈥檓 speaking out because I don鈥檛 want other parents and families to go through what we have gone through. For me, it鈥檚 not about a message of 鈥榙on鈥檛 do drugs,鈥� it鈥檚 a message about staying alive, being safer with your use and knowing there are supports available.鈥�
Wills said that his brother Dustin, age 30, didn鈥檛 tell his family that he was a drug user, and an autopsy indicated that he only had fentanyl and caffeine in his system. So, it鈥檚 unclear whether he was a regular user to begin with.
He鈥檚 not sure why he didn鈥檛 share the information, but Dr. Silvina Mema said that the stigma of being a drug user is something that鈥檚 difficult to overcome.
The anonymity of this project is expected to help get some insights on how to overcome that barrier.
鈥淲hen people use alone they increase their risk of a fatal overdose,鈥� said Mema, Interior Health medical officer and project lead. 鈥淲e want to work with people who use alone so we can find ways of reducing the risk. We鈥檝e come a long way in the last couple of years, but there is a still lot to learn to make a difference. We are looking to individuals who could provide their own lived experience; we need their voice to make real change.鈥�
To participate visit .
To report a typo, email:
edit@kelownacapnews.com.
edit@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .
