International Overdose Awareness Day – We Grieve with & Call for Comprehensive Policy Reform

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD).

At HCLC, we  pause to grieve for the lives lost and to offer compassion to those who continue to struggle. We stand with their loved ones, knowing that each life lost is a profound tragedy that underscores the urgent need for meaningful legal, health and social reform.

“For those who use drugs and those who don’t. For heartbroken friends and family members of lost loved ones. For activists who fight for sorely needed policy reform. For healthcare and harm reduction workers. For tireless advocates. Overdose can affect anyone, and we encourage you to remember the tenacity of our community. Lean into the power that we can have when we work together.” – IOAD Campaign. OverdoseDay.com

The evidence from countries like Portugal, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and others shows that decriminalizing drugs, combined with comprehensive health and social programs, leads to significant reductions in overdose deaths and improvements in public health. In Canada, we face an escalating overdose crisis that demands urgent and innovative solutions.

It is time for Canada to recognize that punitive laws and criminalization are not effective in addressing substance use disorders. It is time for Canada to know the housing affordability crisis, health crisis and systemic inequalities are compounding the Overdose crisis. Instead, Canada’s leaders and communities must focus on a legal public health reform and  approaches that prioritizes harm reduction, treatment, and social support. By decriminalizing the possession of drugs for personal use and investing in comprehensive social programs—including access to affordable housing, mental health services, and addiction treatment—Canada can create an environment; like Portugal, the Netherlands and Switzerland, where individuals are supported, not punished.

We call on Canadian policy makers to adopt proven strategies from around the world. By implementing these legal and social reforms, Canada can reduce overdose deaths, improve the lives of those struggling with substance use, and create a more compassionate and effective approach to drug policy. Each life lost is one too many.

For more resources, information, and ideas on how you can support: overdoseday.com/

For more information about HLO:  HamiltonJustice.ca/community-justice/mental-health-substance-involved-justice