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Halton Police mark International Overdose Awareness Day
September 3, 2023 By Laura Steiner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Sep. 3, 2023, Milton, Ont. – On International Overdose Awareness Day, the Halton Police wanted to shed light on the dire state of opioid-related overdoses nationwide in the Halton Region. As the rates of overdoses and opioid-related harm continue to surge, law enforcement is calling upon the public to take crucial steps to reduce the risk of fatal overdoses.
Year-to-date statistics reveal a grim reality: Halton police officers have been dispatched to over 270 known or suspected overdose incidents involving illicit substances, prescription drugs, or over-the-counter medications. Nearly half of these cases have affected individuals aged between 18 and 34, underlining the severity of the issue. Tragically, 28 people from various age groups did not survive these overdoses.
Each of these overdoses is a preventable tragedy.
Inspector Dave Costantini, who leads the Service’s internal Overdose Coordination Group, emphasized, “Ensuring the safety and well-being of those we serve is of paramount importance to us. We remain committed to an evidence-based harm reduction approach to the overdose crisis facing Halton Region, and we are here to help.”
In commemorating International Overdose Awareness Day and as part of their ongoing educational efforts in harm reduction, the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has unveiled a public service announcement across various social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and more. This video tackles critical topics such as:
- Recognizing the signs
- How to respond
- The good Samaritan drug overdose act
- Safer use
- Quality and contamination
– The Milton Reporter
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