Communities around the world were ‘painting towns purple’ this past Sunday for International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), and residents in Grey and Bruce Counties were welcome to participate. IOAD, observed globally on August 31, aims to raise awareness about overdose prevention, remember without stigma those who have died from drug poisoning, and acknowledge the grief of those who have lost loved ones to substance-related harms.
The Community Drug and Alcohol Strategy (CDAS), working through Grey and Bruce County’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, continues to address substance use challenges in Grey and Bruce. A new four-year strategic plan focuses on enhancing community safety, reducing harms from opioids and toxic drug supply, increasing access to care, and reducing stigma.
According to the Government of Canada’s Fentanyl Czar Interim Report, opioid poisoning claims 20 lives daily across Canada. From January 2016 to December 2024, there were 52,544 deaths nationally. While Grey and Bruce Counties have seen a reduction in opioid-related deaths since early 2025, there continues to be a toxic drug poisoning crisis affecting families and communities.
This year for IOAD, community members were invited to create purple window displays inspired by the IOAD Light up a Landmark initiative to show support and raise awareness.
A come-and-go event at the Owen Sound Farmers’ Market on Sunday, August 31, invited the public to remember those lost and to learn about prevention resources. Naloxone, a life-saving medication that temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, was available at this event. Life-saving kits are also available through Grey Bruce Public Health, participating local pharmacies, and community partners.
