Hours after B.C. reported its highest-ever six-month total of overdose deaths, hundreds gathered in Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Kerry Park on Tuesday evening, Aug. 31, calling for decriminalization and an end to the stigma surrounding substance use.

The event, organized by the Kelowna committee of Moms Stop The Harm (MSTH), coincided with International Overdose Awareness Day. New data from the BC Coroners Service revealed that a total of 1,011 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths were recorded between January and June 2021, on pace for more than 2,000 this year.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really tragic. It害羞草研究所檚 a significant sign that everything we害羞草研究所檙e doing is not making any difference,害羞草研究所� said Helen Jennens, a member of MSTH Kelowna who lost her two sons to drug overdoses.

According to data from BC Coroners Service, Kelowna has the fourth-highest number of fatal overdoses in B.C. over the last 10 years, behind only Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria. Kelowna had a total of 369 deaths caused by illicit drug toxicity from January 2011 to June 30, 2021, 25 of those coming since the beginning of this year.

READ MORE: B.C. on track to lose more than 2,000 people to illicit drug poisonings this year

害羞草研究所淭he big problem is the toxic market. The drugs are just lethal. Until we stop that, people are gonna continue dying,害羞草研究所� said Jennens.

Addiction, she said, is a multilayered issue that has no simple solution.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to take a long time. In the meantime, we need a safe supply just to save lives because a dead drug user will never recover. This event is important in telling people that,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淲e need to raise awareness and get rid of the stigma that surrounds substance use. It害羞草研究所檚 a mental health issue and a medical disorder. People should be treated the same way as anybody else that is ill.害羞草研究所�

Several addiction and recovery resources were on-site, such as Living Positive Resource Centre who provided naloxone training, Freedom害羞草研究所檚 Door, Celebrate Recovery, Interior Health and KCR Community Resources. The names and pictures of 19 people who died from drug overdoses were also displayed.

Also in attendance was Joan Phillip, the NDP candidate for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola, and Kelowna city councillor Loyal Wooldridge.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 mainly here for our son. Three years ago, he overdosed on carfentanil. I just want to give a heartfelt thank you for everyone being here,害羞草研究所� said Phillip. 害羞草研究所淲e need people; we need resources like the ones that are here to assist our children.害羞草研究所�

Wooldridge echoed Jennens害羞草研究所檚 sentiment on people suffering from addiction, calling it complicated and slippery.

害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克�� People who use substances deserve to be considered with the same weight as those with acute illnesses,害羞草研究所� said Wooldridge.

害羞草研究所淲e have to continue to work towards decriminalization and reducing stigma so that we can continue to support people so that we don害羞草研究所檛 see tragedies like this in the future.害羞草研究所�

Jennens said that the solution to the overdose epidemic is decriminalization and a safe supply.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a short-term fix and we still need to create systems of recovery and treatment, concurrent care for mental health and substance use,害羞草研究所� she said.

She added that she hopes that people walked away from the event with a sense of compassion.

害羞草研究所淭hese people don害羞草研究所檛 deserve to die 害羞草研究所� Understanding that these moms here have lost a child,害羞草研究所� she said.

READ MORE: Kelowna overdose deaths 4th-highest in B.C. over the last decade

害羞草研究所� With files from Ashley Wadhwani, Katya Slepian and Paula Tran