Overdose Awareness Day

My day (along with many other peoples!) has been a bit chaotic today. This morning I had several people go a bit psycho and aggressive on me, which isn't any fun at all (thank goodness for those conflict resolution skills is all I have to say). When talking to some of the guys later on, I found out that many others had had similar experiences of community members for the last couple of days. So we thought.. what could possibly be causing this?! It didn't take us long to figure out it had to do with drugs. There's a fresh batch of 'Ice' on the streets of Melbourne, and it's pretty dodgy. So dodgy its making people much much more aggressive than normal.

Strangly enough, Tomorrow (Friday) is overdose awareness day. It's a chance to remember those who have died from having suffered overdose as well as those who live with permanent injuries from overdose. It hopes to lay bare the stigma associated with drug use, To provide an opportunity for people to publicly mourn for loved ones, some for the first time, without feeling guilt or shame, To give community members, beyond the drug users direct family and friends, information about the issue of overdose, To send a strong message to current and former drug users that they are valued, To stimulate discussion about overdose prevention and drug policy.

I think it's great that The Salvation Army is pushing this so strongly. There is such a stigma surrounding drug use, and its time to open our eyes and see the bigger picture. Behind every person who uses drugs there's a story. A story usually filled with pain and sorrow. A story that no one ever wants to know. All they see is the drug user.

Its a challenge to myself, because before ths year, I was determined that after I finished uni, I would never work with people who have drug and alcohol issues, because all I knew was the stigma. This year I've gotten to see what really goes on and my thoughts and attitudes have changed. Praise God!.

Tomorrow is going to be a hard, but good day. It's going to be a day when the community members I work with every day are given the chance to reflect on the impact that drugs and overdose have had on our community. They're going to be given the opportunity to remember friends and family who have succumbed to drugs. They're going to remember other 'streeties' who have died because of drugs. It's going to hurt. But there's going to be a message of hope. That things can change for the better. That they have an almighty creator who can help them break free from anything. I don't think thats too idealistic... I believe in a God of the impossible.

For Him Alone
Ness :-)