Society must do more than treat people for addiction and “dump” them back into the same everyday struggles that inspired their addiction in the first place, said Karen Lomax to applause during the Overdose Awareness Day event Tuesday afternoon in St. George's Square.
“Until we fix why people are using substances, this will continue. It may even get worse,” said Lomax, overdose prevention coordinator at HIV/AIDS Resources and Community Health (ARCH), of the rising number of drug poisoning deaths provincially and locally. “We have to come up with other answers for folks. … We have to do better.”
In many cases, opioid addiction stems from prescription pain relief that, when ended, can drive people to seek out illegal sources, Lomax explained. She called for the creation of protocols to prevent just such a situation, such as allocating mental health services when prescribing long term pain relief, daily dispensing of medicine and more.
“We can’t just dump people,” Lomax continued, noting that pushes them to find other sources, which in turn puts their lives at greater risk. “And the spiral begins.”
Getting sober on it’s own is not the answer, she said, referring to the perspective held by many members of society.
“What we’re saying is, if you’re sober, your problems go away,” Lomax said. “The last time I checked, that’s not how it works.
“We put so much pressure on folks to get sober and when they fail, we shame them – we call them names … and we certainly don’t want them in our backyards.”
She acknowledged there are supports in place, such as Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability, though those fall far short of paying rent, let alone the other necessities of life.
“The reality is the system is broken and without an overhaul from our provincial and federal governments, it won’t get better,” Lomax added, once again to applause from the more than 100 people in attendance.
There were 2,100 opioid-related deaths in Ontario during 2020, Lomax stated, with one in six deaths between March and December of that year linked to people experiencing homelessness.
The province hit an all-time peak in December with 248 opioid-related deaths.
“It’s heartbreaking, just heartbreaking,” said Lomax, who herself is recovering from opioid addiction.
During the ceremony, a concept design was unveiled for a planned 'I Remember' memorial to recognize those who've lost their life to drug poisoning, provide a space for people to remember loved ones and to serve as an educational piece that highlights overdose deaths in the community.
The concept consists of a pathway leading to a circular stone with the words “Family” and “Friends” etched on the side. Around the memorial will be grass with each blade representing one person who has passed away from drug poisoning.
“We want a place for folks to come and spend time with their memories – a place that is stigma-free and welcoming,” said Lomax.
At the moment, there is no location set for the memorial, though organizers – ARCH and Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy – hope to work with city officials to place it in an existing park, Lomax noted, adding future IOAD ceremonies could be held there.
In an effort to raise the $50,000 needed to make the memorial happen, T-shirt and hat sales with the phrases “Support Not Stigma” and “I Remember” launched shortly before Tuesday’s ceremony.
Tuesday’s ceremony also saw a plaque presented to the Safe Supply Program, overseen by Guelph Community Health Centre, for its efforts to address community needs. The plaque, Lomax explained, will become an annual part of the International Overdose Awareness Day ceremony.
