WEYBURN - Joel. Age 30. Son of Tanya.
Date of death - February 6, 2022.
Morgan. Age 27. Son of Natalie.
Date of death - May 27, 2022.
These two young men had nothing in common until this year.
This year, they both died by overdose.
Their Mothers, complete strangers to each other, met last week in a three way chat with me to share their stories. I’ve known both of these beautiful women for many years, and I’m here to tell you one thing.
Their boys mattered.
Today, August 31, is International Overdose Awareness Day.
Today, Tanya in Edmonton and Natalie in Winnipeg will be joining many others to remember, without stigma, those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind.
Across the country, Moms Stop the Harm (MSTH), a network of Canadian families impacted by substance-use-related harms and deaths, are hosting events for International Overdose Awareness Day.
International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose. The campaign raises awareness of overdose, which is one of the world’s worst public health crisis, and stimulates action and discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy.
MSTH advocates for the change of failed drug policies, provides peer support to grieving families, and assists those with loved ones who use or have used substances.
Moms Stop the Harm is a non-judgmental circle of love, compassion and understanding.
Let’s stand with these two Mothers, and many others like them, and let them know their boys are not just a number or a statistic.
Joel mattered. Morgan mattered.
They were and are someone’s son. They are loved and very much missed.
