International Overdose Awareness Day

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is held on August 31 every year. It is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind. The theme for 2024 was “Together we can”, which highlights the power of community when we all stand together. Hepatitis SA peer educators Fiona and Margie joined the community in marking the day. Their stories below:

Education and Yummy Goodies

Hepatitis SA’s NSP Peer Project workers were invited to Community Access and Services SA (CAaSSA) community barbecue as part of their IOAD activities. Lots of yummy goodies, showcasing international communities, were to be had.

Naloxone and overdose were the key messages for the event and we spoke with community members and staff. We undertook naloxone education, specifically in relation to the nasally applied Nyxoid: what it looks like, how to use it, shelf life, that it has no side effects if used on someone who hasn’t had an overdose, calling 000 and information on accessing naloxone through pharmacies.

The community acknowledged how important it was to have naloxone on hand: in the medicine cabinet at home, or in the car for instance. See here for more information on how you can access it.

Remember: Treat Naloxone like any other medicine.

Fiona Poeder, Peer Educator – Hepatitis SA

A Tribute Tree

On a cold windy Friday, we set up a BBQ, a table with naloxone information and another table so people could make ‘leaves’ with heartfelt messages to loved ones they have lost or who have been affected by overdose. We had made a ‘Tribute tree’, painted it purple and that’s where people hung their ‘leaves’.  It was a test run for the BBQ too, as it was brand spanking new.

The weather was terrible to say the least. The wind blew through the area like a hurricane. Luckily, I brought rocks to weigh naloxone resources and leaves down. It was a private BBQ with only NSP service users attending. I was impressed that seven people turned up and stayed even after the rain started pouring down and saturated everything and all of us.

Two of them had used naloxone before and were most proud to wear their “I Carry Naloxone’ wristbands.

Everyone loved the idea of the tribute tree and spent most of their time talking about a person they had lost and how it would have been great if naloxone was around, as the ambulance didn’t make it or whoever was with that person didn’t have the knowledge to know how to help. The couple of people who hadn’t lost anybody didn’t want to miss out on adding to the tree. They wrote quotes like ‘look after your mates’ and ‘naloxone saves lives’.

While people were eating their snags, I showed each of them the Nyxoid nasal spray naloxone and Prenoxad intramuscular injectable naloxone; how to use each one and where to get them locally. That was a better way than showing them in a group, where they might have felt too shy to ask any questions. It also gave me a chance to dispel any myths. Two of them had used naloxone before and were most proud to wear their “I Carry Naloxone’ wristbands. Although they were going put them higher up their arm, under their sleeves,  in public due to fear of discrimination.

An hour into the BBQ the rain came, not a light drizzle, it was pouring down. Nothing could be saved except for the tree. It has a bit of water damage, and the leaves just have a bit more character.

Considering the weather, I was happy to see seven people turn up and not only stay for the whole time but were interested in learning about naloxone, and enjoyed putting their feelings on the tree. Hopefully, that would be seven people who will educate their friends about naloxone and where to get it.

I would like to say a big thank you to Dusty for cooking sausages & onions in gale force winds; it’s not for the faint-hearted. He also made a big effort to talk to everyone and make them feel welcome.

Margie Randle, Peer Educator – Hepatitis SA

Last updated 11 September 2024

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