Nancy Furness speaks with Roxanne Saxon of the Tri-Cities Community Action Team about how the organization brings awareness to the current overdose crisis affecting residents in the Tri-Cities, British Columbia, and across Canada.

The mission of the Tri-Cities Community Action Team is to bring together multiple community members to support and facilitate local partnerships, coordinate programs and services, address gaps, and plan for collaborative community action around the toxic drug crisis.

The substantial rise in drug-related overdoses and fatalities in British Columbia led Provincial Health Officer Dr. Perry Kendall to declare a public health emergency on April 14, 2016. The ongoing "Overdose Emergency" has evolved into the "Toxic Drug Crisis" due to its impact extending beyond opioid users to encompass stimulant users and first-time experimenters.

International Overdose Awareness Day (Aug 31) is a time to remember loved ones lost due to the toxic drug crisis, fight stigma, and strengthen our communities by reaching out to family & friends, sharing stories, listening without judgment, and simply being present to break down stigma and create a sense of belonging.

This year the Tri-Cities Community Action Team successfully brought together representatives from Access Youth, the Talitha Koum Society, the Fraser Health Overdose Outreach Team, the Curtis Dream Car, and the Wonderous Tree Fellowship to take part in a walk at Blue Mountain Part in Coquitlam to help bring awareness to this cause.

Curtis passed away from a toxic drug overdose on Dec 14th, 2022 in his apartment, alone, while playing PlayStation.

After Curtis’ passing, his 1999 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 Twin Turbo remained parked in our family’s driveway. Rather than getting rid of it, his family began raising a sizeable amount of money to repair the car. Curtis’ Dream is meant to spread the kindness and excited, energetic engagement with the community that Curtis was famous for. He cared deeply for the people around him and we wanted to continue in that memory.

Curtis’ Dream Car is now driving to destigmatize substance use, to raise awareness of the toxic drug crisis and distribute harm reduction information, Naloxone kits, and testing supplies.

For more information,

Tri-Cities Community Action Team ;

https://tri-citiescat.ca

Curtis Dream Car ;

https://www.curtisdream.com