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St. Catharines Joins Overdose Awareness Campaign

The City of St. Catharines joining a local campaign to International Overdose Awareness Day at a critical time as overdose deaths in the region continue to climb.

The City of St. Catharines joining a local campaign for International Overdose Awareness Day.

The campaign is aimed at raising awareness, breaking the stigma, and taking action to help young people struggling with addiction and overdose.

The flags at City Hall have been lowered to remember community members who have tragically lost their lives to overdose and purple ribbons and crosses have been placed by community members in honour of their loved ones. 

A poster campaign and purple hearts are on display across the city in support of the campaign led by the Overdose Prevention and Education Network of Niagara. 

Local businesses are also displaying signs and ribbons until Sept. 6 to mourn the loss of community members who have died from overdose.

International Overdose Awareness Day comes at a critical time as the number of opioid overdoses and overdose deaths in Niagara continues to climb. 

One of the most recent overdose deaths that struck the community comes from a grieving father, Steve Borisenko whose 21-year-old son Jacob passed away from an unintentional opioid overdose in June. 

Through hearing Jacob’s story and seeing Steve’s commitment to action, the Mayor’s Office together with OPENN will be convening a  youth-focused opioid task force this September.

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