Recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day

Communities around the world are "painting towns purple" this Sunday for International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), and residents in Grey and Bruce Counties are 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 the 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 are 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 31st from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. invites 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, will be available at this event. Life-saving kits are also available through Grey Bruce Public Health, participating local pharmacies, and community partners.

On August 31^st, CSWBP Grey-Bruce encourages everyone to help raise awareness about overdose prevention, honour those lost, support grieving families, and demonstrate that recovery and hope are possible. Together, communities can reduce stigma and save lives.

Learn more about the Community Drug and Alcohol Strategy

What is the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWBP) Grey-Bruce?  

Community Safety and Well Being Planning helps organizations improve the things that keep us healthy, happy, and safe. Together, we use research to create solutions focused on education, health care, food, housing, income, crime, and belonging. It is important that we create a welcoming community where problems are solved before they happen and where different professionals and community members come together to help people now and in the future. 

The ongoing work of CSWBP is supported by an advisory committee representing over 78 partners from across Bruce and Grey who are working together to address crime prevention by investing in social development, prevention, and risk interventions. This upstream preventative model focuses on creating protective factors that make individuals less vulnerable to crime and victimization.  

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For more information, contact:

Nicole Griffin, Communications Manager, County of Bruce at CDonaldson [at] brucecounty.on.ca (NGriffin[at]brucecounty[dot]on[dot]ca) or 226-668-5969

Katrina Peredun, Communications Officer, Grey County, communications [at] grey.ca (communications[at]grey[dot]ca) or 519-370-7064