Addiction continues to take an enormous toll on families, friends and communities across Chatham-Kent and far beyond.
Addiction continues to take an enormous toll on families, friends and communities across Chatham-Kent and far beyond.
Advertisement 2
Article content
But Thursday was a day to honor those who have lost the battle with addiction or are still in the midst of it. Reach Out Chatham-Kent (ROCK) and the Chatham-Kent Drug Awareness Council hosted an international overdose awareness day at ROCK locations in Chatham and Wallaceburg to highlight the issues that are driving this crisis.
The theme of “Together we can,” stresses the importance of collaboration in addressing the drug poisoning epidemic.
“Most of the drugs that we find that our friends from the street are using are from an unregulated drug supply,” said ROC.K operations co-ordinator Renee Geniole.
ROCK hosted a community event in November 2023 to discuss the impact of the animal tranquilizer xylazine showing up in the illicit drug supply in Chatham-Kent.
Advertisement 3
Article content
When asked if the situation has worsened, Geniole said, “Absolutely and now there is a second version of that animal tranquilizer” in the drug supply.
Noting the animal tranquilizers, referred to as tranq, negate the usefulness of naloxone, which is used to treat opioid overdoses, she said, “It’s not for human consumption in any way.
“It’s killing people.”
This is the third year ROCK has held an international overdose awareness day event.
Geniole said it is a day of remembrance, grieving and gathering.
“It’s a day to honor people we know who do use substances and make them aware that we care and that we want them to stick around,” she added.
Marcus VanDusen, 41, and Shawn Mickim, 50, two men who have lived-experience with addiction, are part of the ROCK active peer program who show those battling addiction, particularly those living on the street that someone cares.
Advertisement 4
Article content
“They’re more open to connect with us,” Mickim said of people battling addiction.
He added it is important just to try to help people and not be judgmental.
“I just like helping, because I know how it is,” said VanDusen, who came through a 10-year battle to beat both alcohol and opioid addiction.
“You have to want to beat it,” said Mickim, a recovering alcoholic, who decided to quit drinking when he learned his partner was pregnant.
“That’s what it took for me,” he said. “I was just sick of life.”
VanDusen advises people to “take it day-by-day,” and lets them know they can beat addiction and accomplish things if they really want it.
“It’s not easy, but I’m a lot happier,” VanDusen said.
Jeff Parker, who helped co-found ROCK five years ago, continues to volunteer by regularly delivering lunches to homeless people in Chatham. He also takes the time to talk with people battling addiction and believes they need the opportunity to tell their stories to help them recover.
Advertisement 5
Article content
Parker said addictions often stem from a mental illness or some kind of abuse.
“It carries on and if you don’t deal with it, it grows like fungus,” he said.
“Fungus likes the dark and our friends are in the dark right now, because they are confused, they are lost.”
When asked if there are any signs of things getting better, Geniole said, “That’s a bit of a tough question.
“With the recent ruling by the provincial government closing all the safe consumption sites and the restrictions on harm reduction, that’s not a good step from where we sit,” she added.
She appreciates the government opening more addiction treatment centers, but fears closing safe consumption sites will make the situation worse.
“These places save lives; harm reduction saves lives,” Geniole said. “Until people are ready to take treatment, we have to make sure they’re aware that we care enough that we still want them to be alive.”
Article content