Tag Archives: Opioid Epidemic

A purple background with two black balloons and the words, Black Balloon Day March 6, 2025

How Black Balloon Day Became a Symbol of Remembrance and Hope

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Black Balloon Day is observed annually on March 6. Its purpose is to raise awareness about the global toxic drug crisis and to honour those who have lost their lives to substance use disorders and overdose. On this day, individuals and communities come together to remember loved ones and challenge the stigma associated with addiction.

Origins of Black Balloon Day

The initiative, which began on March 6, 2015, following the tragic death of Greg Tremblay, a 38-year-old father of four, due to an overdose, has since grown into an international event. In his memory, family members Diane and Lauren Hurley started Black Balloon Day. The growth of this initiative shows the impact individuals and communities can have when they come together.

The Ongoing Toxic Drug Crisis

The toxic drug crisis continues to have significant impacts worldwide. In British Columbia, Canada, unregulated drug poisoning remains the leading cause of death for individuals aged 10 to 59, surpassing deaths from murders, suicides, accidents, and natural diseases combined.

How is it possible that ten-year-olds are more likely to die from drug poisoning than any other cause?

In BC, the crisis disproportionately affects males, who accounted for 74% of the unregulated drug toxicity deaths in 2024. However, the impact is not limited to one gender or community. Additionally, the rate of death among females increased by 60% from 2020, reaching 21 per 100,000 individuals.

Addressing Stigma and Providing Support

Black Balloon Day aims to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction by recognizing it as a brain disease rather than a moral failing. This perspective encourages individuals to seek help without shame. Every action counts in the fight against stigma. Support can take various forms, including educating oneself about the signs of high-risk drug and alcohol use, offering non-judgmental assistance to those struggling, and advocating for accessible treatment options. Changing the language used to discuss addiction can also reduce stigma, making it easier for individuals to seek help.

Community Engagement and Events

Community events such as those organized by the Tri-Cities Community Action Team (TC CAT), Moms Stop The Harm and other organizations help raise awareness. They provide a platform for individuals to come together, honour those lost, and support affected families. Your participation in these events makes a real difference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recognizing Black Balloon Day

Community organizations encourage the release of virtual balloons each year on Black Balloon Day to honour those lost to substance use. Individuals can participate by sharing their loved ones’ names or stories on social media platforms using the hashtag #BlackBalloonDay. They can create a post or a story on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and use the hashtag to join the conversation and show support.

Take a few minutes to learn how to support those who may be struggling. Substance use issues are more common than you might think, affecting people from all walks of life. With continued awareness and action, the hope is that Black Balloon Day, along with the toxic drug crisis, will become a distant memory through our collective efforts and commitment to change.

Together, we can create a future where we no longer lose lives to substance use disorders and toxic drugs.

#BlackBalloonDay

Black Balloon Day – March 6

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March 6 is International Black Balloon Day. Take a few minutes this week to educate yourself about the toxic drug crisis and learn how you can support loved ones who may be struggling with substance use issues.

The event brings awareness to the worldwide toxic drug crisis and highlights deaths from drug overdose and substance-related harm. On this day, people pay tribute to family and friends who have died from drug poisoning and overdose. The event also aims to deflate the stigma of addiction, which is the reason many don’t seek help. Addiction is a brain disease — not a moral failure. People need reassurance that addiction is not their fault.

Black Balloon Day began with one family’s tragic loss. On March 6, 2015, Greg Tremblay, a father of four aged 38, died of an overdose. His mother-in-law, Diane and sister-in-law, Lauren Hurley, initiated the event to remember Greg. It has since become an international event. Learn more.
#BlackBalloonDay

A map of the world created using coloured pills

People of the World — Wake Up to the Toxic Drug Crisis!

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This poem is a call to action. Toxic drugs are killing our family and friends, and we can no longer look the other way. Where will this human disaster end if we fail to take action now?

 

The toxic drug crisis is a worldwide emergency
That needs to be treated with far greater urgency
Graphs display death rates with alarming increases
It’s a troublesome puzzle with numerous pieces

A toxic drug epidemic doesn’t discriminate,
Between rich folks and poor, there’s no single determinate
With a human catastrophe affecting millions of lives
We must prioritize solving it before countless more die

How can we manage such a challenging task?
Finding solutions that work is a formidable ask
We must seek out and examine all the root causes
Disconnection and anguish, body pain and trauma

Nobody chooses a life of addiction
Harrowing events often change life’s direction
Taking people to places we can’t imagine
To escape from torment too deep to fathom

People use substances to mask mental trauma
From childhood abuse or conditions they’re born with
Physical pain from work injuries and sports
May lead to the misuse of drugs of all sorts

Shame on Big Pharma for their part in this mess
And for those who make money off human distress
They’d be wise to step up and start work on redress
Because karma will dish out as good as it gets

Some recovery programs promote prayer and religion
These should not be required in a treatment equation
Twelve steps and faith are for many a dissuasion
From facilities and programs that could otherwise aid them

Faith works for some, but not all are believers
Should they have to be hypocrites — praying to Jesus?
Lay down the holy books, put religion on the shelf
Ask meaningful questions about how best to help

What if we invited more players to the table
People with a focus on recovery, not jail cells?
We know putting sick people in prison won’t work
Those with lived experience shouldn’t be overlooked

Folks in recovery have wrestled with pain
With treatment, they’ve discovered there’s so much to gain
Some generous souls have the courage to come back
From personal depths to get others on track

Many have experienced withdrawal and cravings
Been homeless and hungry without prospects or savings
They can give out tough love as their journey’s familiar
And are valuable mentors for those going through similar

Pay attention to workers in shelters and on streets
Those on the front lines who understand needs
People are people, not numbers and stats
Have the sense and compassion to meet them where they’re at

Listening with interest to opinions and thoughts
And considering all options leads to programs that work
Curiosity is a superpower well-known to the wise
More questions and less talking would help open eyes

And let’s respect science and use legitimate stats
Reject bias and conjecture and stick with the facts
Evidence-based research is what smart people use
For policy decisions where the impact is huge

In some other countries, success has been seen
Why not study their methods to see what we can glean?
We must switch focus from punishment to care
And consider testing programs that have worked well elsewhere

Substance Use Disorder is not a personal choice
A moral failing to be scorned by the media’s harsh voice
Stop penalizing those who treat their suffering with drugs
Save the jail time for dealers and underworld thugs

Giving fines for drug use belongs in the past.
The benefits of supervised consumption are vast
Free opioid treatment does not prolong addiction
It even saves society money in the long run

On the path to recovery, people need help
To find safe, low-cost homes, effective treatment and work
They need clean, free medication, support and connection
Experience-based guidance, non-judgemental direction
And treatment facilities with no stay-length restriction

Addiction could happen to you or to me
One nasty curveball, and where would we be?
And how would we hope to be treated by others
As worthless criminals or like sisters and brothers?

Toxic drugs are killing our family and friends
If we fail to take action — where will this end?
We must educate ourselves and start conversations
On behalf of our loved ones and the health of our nations

Thanks to all those who have generous hearts
Good intentions are always a great place to start
Reach out and help — don’t turn a blind eye
Because there but for good fortune,
Go you — and go I.

© Gill McCulloch, July 2023

Other related blog posts include:

Benefits of Free Opioid Addiction Treatment

Opioid Overdose: Four Things We Can Do Today to Stop Senseless Deaths

 

Opioid Overdose: Four Things We Can Do Today to Stop Senseless Deaths

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While experts work on long-term solutions to the opioid epidemic, the rest of us can take action now to save lives.

 

The world is struggling with two major health emergencies: COVID-19 and the opioid epidemic.

While COVID-19 is constantly in our thoughts, the opioid epidemic may not be top of mind for most. But, for first responders kneeling on cold sidewalks injecting Naloxone into unconscious casualties and parents who’ve just found their teenager dead in bed from an overdose, it’s a devastating reality.

Government health agencies have given us reams of instructions for protecting ourselves from the COVID-19 virus. They’ve not yet, however, provided clear guidelines about preventing death from an overdose. Healthcare professionals are urgently searching for solutions to the opioid crisis. Meanwhile, this article will outline four action steps people can take to start saving lives today.

The overdose epidemic does not discriminate

I have two kids aged 19 and 22. My daughter is a university student living at home, and my son shares an apartment with friends in Vancouver. I worry about them taking risks and getting poisoned by drinks or drugs laced with fentanyl or worse.

My husband and I have done our best to be good parents, teach our kids right from wrong and talk openly about uncomfortable topics like addiction. The overdose epidemic doesn’t discriminate, though, and being a good kid from a good home doesn’t make you immune to death by overdose.

Across the globe, lives are being ruined and lost at alarming rates, and communities large and small are feeling the impacts. According to the latest World Drug Report, an estimated 585,000 people died due to drug use in 2017. Opioids account for more than 70% of drug-related deaths, with more than 30% of those deaths caused by overdose.

Stop the blame game

People love to blame others for bad things that happen in the world. The opioid epidemic is one of the worst disasters of our time, and the internet is full of articles, videos, reports, and TED talks about the whodunit. Theories about what started this global crisis and why it continues include:

  • Massive marketing efforts by large pharmaceutical companies
  • Doctors over-prescribing pain medications
  • Dealers smuggling dirty drugs across borders
  • Lack of support for those with mental health issues
  • Stigma towards people struggling with addiction

Focusing on who’s to blame is not the best use of our time when loved ones are dying in bedrooms, gutters, and coffee shop bathrooms. We’d be wiser to focus on finding solutions to this colossal crisis or at least support groups trying to do this.

Organizations are tackling the problem from all angles. They’re looking at housing the homeless, creating employment opportunities, and decriminalizing drugs. Health agencies continue to develop harm reduction programs like safe drug supply and needle exchange programs. Advocacy groups and community action teams hold awareness events, and educators focus on prevention by delivering drug and alcohol presentations in schools.

But what can the rest of us do to prevent senseless deaths from an opioid overdose?

How we can help:

Here are four things we can do to stay safer and equip ourselves with skills to help a person suffering from an opioid overdose.

  • Ask questions about pain management before accepting prescriptions for opioid painkillers.
  • Educate ourselves with first aid, CPR, and Naloxone training.
  • Learn about the Lifeguard app.
  • Check-in with loved ones.

1. Pain management

During the week of my final exams at university, I had three wisdom teeth removed. The timing was unfortunate, but my teeth wouldn’t wait. The day after my teeth came out, I had an exam. From a corner of the auditorium ceiling, I remember looking down at myself working on my test. I have no idea what kind of painkillers the dentist gave me, but they were strong.

Years later, I took my teenaged son to have a wisdom tooth removed. The dentist prescribed Oxycodone-Acetaminophen for the pain. His advice was, “Take the pain meds straight away. Day three is the worst if you don’t keep up with painkillers. Don’t try to tough it out.”

Also known as Percocet, this medication controls pain but is highly addictive. In my son’s pill bottle, there were 24 tablets — twenty-four strong opioid pills for a sore tooth.

I cautioned my son about the dangers of opioids and advised him to switch to Tylenol sooner than later. Fortunately, his pain was short-lived, and he only took one of the Percocet tablets. His mouth healed quickly, and that was the end of the story. For others, a single prescription of opioid painkillers following an injury or operation can lead to the slippery slope of opioid misuse and sometimes, tragically, death.

According to the Mayo Clinic,

“The length of time you use prescribed opioids also plays a role in potential addiction. Researchers have found that taking opioid medications for more than a few days increases your risk of long-term use, which increases your risk of addiction. The odds you’ll still be on opioids a year after starting a short course increase after only five days on opioids.”

There’s a place for opioids in pain management; however, there are serious risks associated with their use. It’s critical we carefully consider these risks alongside their benefits. It’s up to us to ask questions, educate ourselves, and take responsibility for our health.

Doctors can provide information about pain management that doesn’t involve prescription opioids. Some options may work better and have fewer risks and side effects. These include pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, physical therapy, exercise, and cognitive behavioural therapy.

What can we do?

  • Ask questions about pain medications and avoid prescribed opioids. Before an operation or medical procedure, ask what painkillers the doctor or surgeon is planning to use. If they prescribe an opioid analgesic, ask what alternate drugs and pain management strategies are available.
  • Search medicine cabinets for expired medications and take them to the local pharmacy for safe disposal.

2. Educating ourselves — First Aid and Naloxone training

Last year a friend was walking in downtown Vancouver when she found a man unconscious on the sidewalk. As she was calling 911, a passing cyclist stopped, threw a Naloxone kit onto the street beside her, and cycled off. Our friend knew what Naloxone was but had never used it before. She unzipped the kit, quickly read the instructions, injected the drug into the man’s arm, and saved his life.

How Naloxone works:

Naloxone can quickly reverse the life-threatening effects of an opioid overdose. In the brain, Naloxone and opioids bind to the same receptor sites. If too many opioids are attached to these receptors, breathing can slow or stop. Naloxone knocks opioids off the receptors and reverses the effects of the drugs temporarily, restoring breathing.

Naloxone is a safe drug with a low risk of serious side effects. If given to a person who is not experiencing an opioid overdose, it does no harm. You can administer Naloxone by injection or by nasal spray. It’s easy to do, but it helps if you’ve taken a short course or at least watched a how-to video.

First Aid & CPR Training:

As breathing is affected during an overdose, we need to know how to give a person rescue breaths. People learn rescue breathing, CPR, and other skills during a first aid course. Those looking to learn or refresh their first aid skills can find a class via their local Red Cross agency.

Mental Health first aid teaches people how to recognize when someone is struggling with a decline in their mental health or experiencing a mental health crisis. The training gives participants knowledge and skills to assist them.

What can we do?

3. The Lifeguard App can help save people who use drugs alone

The vast majority of fatal overdoses occur when people are using drugs alone. Lifeguard is a free phone app (on the ios app store and Google Play). The app brings emergency responders to people who may be overdosing on drugs. The purpose of the app is to reduce the risk of fatal overdose for individuals using alone.

How the Lifeguard app works:

When a person is ready to use their drug, they open the app, Select the drug they’re using and start the app timer. Before the timer begins, they confirm their address and provide additional details to help emergency services find them if needed. Then they tap the start button to activate the timer. The timer begins to count down from one minute. With 10 seconds remaining, an alarm will start to sound and get progressively louder. To silence the alarm, they can tap the stop button. If they’re unable to stop the alarm and the Lifeguard app will contact EMS.

EMS will call their mobile phone immediately to confirm they are OK. If they don’t answer the phone, Emergency Services will send an ambulance. The app’s alarm will continue to sound to help paramedics find the person. The Lifeguard app can also connect people to EMS/911, the 811 nurses line, the suicide prevention line, and the crisis intervention line.

What can we do?

4. Check in with loved ones

Now, more than ever, people are struggling with their mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased isolation, and many people turn to substances because they are lonely. Those who live alone are especially at risk of depression, and if they also use drugs, death from overdose.

In an excellent article in Psychology Today, Robert Weiss, Ph.D., MSW, suggests,

“Addiction is not about the pleasurable effects of substances, it’s about the user’s inability to connect in healthy ways with other human beings. In other words, addiction is not a substance disorder, it’s a social disorder.”

Weiss talks about how people with substance use issues need to connect with safe, supportive, reliable, empathetic people in order to recover.

Addiction isolates people.

People may use substances to cope with depression, anxiety, and stressful situations — avoiding their feelings — and reality. They may cover up their fear and guilt with angry outbursts and emotionally abusive behaviours.

“Hurt people, hurt people.”

― Yehuda Berg

Those struggling with addiction are hurting — and in turn, they may hurt their friends and family, damaging relationships. As the disease progresses and the person’s isolation increases, the result may be death from despair.

What can we do?

  • Check-in with loved ones — elderly relatives, teenagers, young adults living away from home, friends who live alone. How are they doing? How are they feeling? Do they need help with anything? Offer support.

Recap: Four ways we can help save lives

  1. Ask questions about pain management before taking opioid painkillers.
  2. Gain life-saving skills with first aid, CPR, and Naloxone training.
  3. Learn about the Lifeguard app and share the information.
  4. Check-in with loved ones regularly to see how they’re doing.

We can all do something to help prevent people from dying of an opioid overdose. And while we’re at it, let’s look after our mental and physical health so we don’t become a statistic in this escalating epidemic. Instead of being part of the problem, we can become part of the solution.

©Gill McCulloch, April 2021

References:

  1. NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5937046
  2. Addiction, Isolation and the Cycle of Loneliness. https://vertavahealth.com/blog/addiction-isolation-and-the-cycle-of-loneliness/
  3. The Folly of Fr. Martin & The Power Of Connection. https://sobertostay.com/the-folly-of-fr-martin-the-power-of-connection
  4. Opioid overdose — World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/opioid-overdose
  5. Toward the Heart.com, Naloxone Saves Lives video
  6. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) ‘World Drug Report 2019’