In a flag raising ceremony held Thursday morning at City Hall, St. Thomas officially proclaimed August 31st, 2024 as “International Overdose Awareness Day.”
It’s a day to remember those who have died from a drug overdose and to support those struggling with addiction.
Amanda Zielinski of The Nameless spoke at the ceremony and urged the people of St. Thomas to come together in the fight to end overdose.
Ways you can help include…
- Know the signs of an overdose. Look for trouble staying awake, blue or grey lips or nails, small pupils, cold and clammy skin, dizziness, confusion, choking, slow or no breathing, and unresponsiveness.
- Carry naloxone if you or someone you know uses opioids. Naloxone can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, giving time for medical help to arrive. You can get free naloxone kits from local pharmacies- find a location here.
- Stay with the person during an overdose until help arrives. If you see someone overdosing, call 911 and stay with them until help comes. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects you from drug possession charges if you call 911 to help someone during an overdose.
Together, we can save lives and prevent overdoses.
Written by: K. Freeman and K. Milhomens
