International Overdose Awareness Day 2023

International Overdose Awareness Day 2023

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver BC) – August 31, 2023) Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, which is an international campaign to end overdoses, remove stigma from people who have died from unregulated drug poisonings and acknowledge the grief of the families and friends of victims. To show our support for the campaign we are wearing the colour purple as a reminder that every life is precious and to promote increased dialogue on problematic substance use.

Over the past seven years, 12,739 people in British Columbia have died from drug overdoses. The province is on track to exceed the 2,383 deaths that were recorded in 2022. In honour of those who have lost their lives due to overdose, NWIC has released a poster.

The Northwest Indigenous Council Society (NWIC) was incorporated in 2015 and became an affiliate of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples in 2016. As a Provincial Territorial Organization, we represent and advocate for First Nations living off reserve and Métis. NWIC is working for seven generations into the future to enhance, promote, protect and foster the social, economic, educational, cultural, health and well-being and rights of Indigenous peoples living off reserve in BC.

For more information contact:

Scott Clark
604-417-0327