Daniel Snyder got involved with overdose awareness advocacy shortly after the provincial government declared overdose a public health crisis in 2016.
“It was at that time I realized the only reason I wasn’t part of the statistics was because my addiction and opioid use took place before fentanyl really saturated the drug supply,” he explained.
During his 15-year-long addiction to opioids, Snyder shared that he was mostly functional, employed, housed, and used exclusively alone and in secret.
“Stigma kept me in hiding,” he said.
“Upon discovering over 72 per cent of overdoses happen in private residences, the way men are disproportionately at risk, and the massive impact on trades people, I realized I needed to use my voice to educate and inform,” Snyder shared.
This year, 81 per cent of illicit drug overdoses occurred indoors – 47 per cent of that in private residences – the most recent B.C. Coroners’ Service report revealed.
The report also found that 77 per cent between the ages of 30 and 59 were male.
“The issue is complex and affects people in many ways. Overdose is virtually always accidental and that is the reason we refer to it as poisoning,” Snyder said.
He added that people need to understand the toxic drug poisoning is about an unregulated market in which people simply don’t know quality or content of the drugs they’re using.
“We should stop moralizing drug use and recognize that there is a hypocrisy in our culture around alcohol and the use of other drugs,” Snyder said.
For the third year, Snyder with the Community Action Team has organized an event at Douglas Park to help the public better understand the scope of the crisis for International Overdose Awareness Day on Thursday, Aug. 31.
A free barbecue is being run by the Lower Fraser Aboriginal Society starting at 5 p.m.
At 6 p.m. an awareness walk will start from Douglas Park and follow Douglas Crescent and 204th Street to Innes Corner, and return back through McBurney Lane to the park.
Until 7 p.m. a resource fair including naloxone training, recovery and harm reductions resources, and community agencies like Moms Stop The Harm and Safe Talk (among many others) will be at the park.
On the stage, Mayor Nathan Pachal will give an opening remark followed by four or five speakers with lived experience starting at 7 p.m. The band Hidden Voices, a group dedicated to overdose awareness, will perform honouring loved ones through song.
Stories of hope and recovery, poetry, and a stigma reduction message will also take place.
At sunset, around 8:20 p.m., a candlelight vigil and memorial will be held. Candles are provided and are flameless.
“This event brings people together in a meaningful way that can bring healing and connection and help people learn more about this complex crisis,” Snyder said. “Many are grieving the loss of their loved ones.”
Since 2016, 288 people in Langley have died of the toxic drug supply, according to the coroner’s report.
The theme for this year’s awareness event is “recognizing those who go unseen.” Snyder said this is to acknowledge those who use drugs that hide and those who lost loved ones that stay silent.
“Many who are using drugs hide every day because the awareness (like in my story) that they would be discredited, written off, cast aside by community and society simply for the health struggle they are facing or the preference in substance. We see you.”
Snyder hopes that those who attend the event grow in compassion and curiosity.
“People should not be defined exclusively by their struggle in life.”
Douglas Park is located at 5403-5409 206th St., and the event starts at 5 p.m.
The public is encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or picnic blankets.
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