Geroy Simon explores the impacts of overdose and how to reduce the risk – Produced by the Government of BC
Geroy Simon:
Everyday in BC, 3-4 people die from an overdose. I have had friends, had family members lose their life to the opioid crisis and overdose. And it’s something that affects not only that person, but it affects everybody involved with that person — their family, their friends, co-workers, their teammates.
Using illegal drugs today is toxic. And by taking these drugs, it can have consequences that you can’t recover from.
A couple years ago, a long-time friend of mine died of an overdose. She was using with a group of people and she went into overdose and instead of them, you know, calling 9-1-1 right away, they panicked. It’s you know, she’s gone. And a simple phone call could have saved her life.
Even if there’s drugs around, the Good Samaritan laws are here to protect you and it’s not a crime to help someone.
There’s a kit that everyone should have if they’re using drugs called naloxone, better known as Narcan. It’s a kit that reverses the effects of an overdose. If you choose to use, try not to use by yourself. This is something that you should definitely have with you at all times and it could save your life.
I think people suffer in silence because they’re afraid. They’re embarrassed. They think that, you know, there’s a stigma behind it.
You can call, you can text, send an e-mail. I think it’s just important to take that first step and reaching out to someone you know, no matter who it is, just let them know that you’re struggling and that you want to get help.
No one should be left to suffer in silence. No one should die from shame. We can all be part of the solution.
Written on the screen:
Get involved. Get informed. Get help.
Learn more at StopOverdoseBC.ca
