NEWS RELEASE
WELLINGTON GUELPH DRUG STRATEGY
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On Friday, Sept. 27 from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy will host the 4th annual Stop The Stigma Rally at Guelph City Hall.
Everyone is welcome to attend. It’s time to offer support, not stigma to the members of our community who experience substance use disorders and addiction.
At the rally, people whose lives have been impacted by substance use, and who have faced the stigma that surrounds this issue, will share their experiences. Their voices identify that addiction is a health issue which requires support and treatment, not judgement.
People of all ages and all walks of life experience substance use disorders and addiction. With support and help, they can recover. Over 12 different local organizations, which provide services to community members who experience substance use challenges, will be at the rally with information about their programs.
Speakers will share how stigma isolates someone who is struggling with addiction at the very time when they need help and assistance. Many people are too ashamed to tell others of their challenges with substances. When people do step forward to ask for help for their substance use, they are often met with judgment and barriers to service, rather than compassion, and timely and appropriate care.
It’s time to stop the stigma. It’s time to offer people who struggle with substance dependence help to reclaim their health and wellbeing. It’s time for our healthcare system to treat addiction just like it treats other health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, COPD and heart conditions. It’s time for us all to examine our attitude towards substance use and to bring support, not stigma, to those who are caught in a cycle of substance dependence.
We all have a part to play in making this change. The courage that our speakers show in sharing what they have experienced, and describing the steps we can take to remove stigma, inspire us all to offer Support, not Stigma to anyone experiencing substance dependence issues.
Event details:
Where: Guelph City Hall, 1 Carden St.
When: Friday, Sept. 27, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Who will be speaking?
• Members of our community who have experienced stigma in relation to substance use
• Chief Gordon Cobey, GPS; Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum from Public Health; James Gordon, Guelph City Council
Please plan on attending and helping to stop the stigma.
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