Health and Safety Lead Phil Glennie writes about International Overdose Awareness Day, and what Right There is doing to raise awareness.
International Overdose Awareness Day is held on August 31st every year. Not only does the awareness day campaign to end overdose, but also remembers without stigma those who have died, and acknowledges the grief of family and friends left behind.
The theme for 2024 is “Together We Can” and with part of Right There’s mission being “walking alongside those that need support”, we can assist staff in knowing and learning about the stigma and myths surrounding substance use and overdose, as well as the positive actions they can take in reducing and raising awareness of overdosing.
Every staff member since 2021 who completes a First Aid course, has also been given training in the use of Naloxone and a number of staff carry it with them at all times outwith their work situations. In-house training on using Naloxone is available to all staff if requested.
This year Right There are running an overdose awareness session for staff on Thursday 29th August. Not only will the session look at some of the latest Scottish Government data released on the 20th August 2024 indicating Scotland’s drug deaths remain the worst in Europe, but also some of the other substances people can overdose on, the emergency treatment of a suspected overdose and a Q&A session.
