By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Sherbrooke will mark the International Overdose Awareness Day on Friday with a full day of activities organized by IRIS Estrie, aimed at honouring lives lost, supporting affected families, and promoting safer drug use practices.
The event runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 505 Wellington Street South and includes health services, harm reduction education, and cultural activities in an open, community-oriented setting. “It’s a moment where we commemorate our loved ones that have passed and give information to the population about safe drug use and how to prevent overdosing,” said Delphine Lamoureux, coordinator of the Overdose Prevention Site (OPS) in Sherbrooke, in an Aug. 27 interview.
A day for remembrance and prevention
International Overdose Awareness Day is observed worldwide on Aug. 31. In Quebec, this day has been marked for two decades. For IRIS Estrie, it’s not only a time to reflect but also a chance to push for life-saving practices. “Because of the overdose crisis we have right now, this day is very important,” Lamoureux stressed.
A press release states that the event will feature a range of activities. From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., visitors can access free, confidential screening for HIV, hepatitis C, and other STIs, in collaboration with the SIDEP of Sherbrooke. From 1 p.m., drug-checking services will be available, offered in partnership with Élixir. Later, from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., supervised consumption services will allow individuals to use substances safely under the watch of trained staff.
Cultural and social elements round out the program: a food truck serving comforting dishes will be on site from 4 p.m., followed by a jam session and open mic at 5 p.m., where participants are invited to bring instruments and join in a shared music experience. “We want people to come and eat a great meal, get more informed, and just visit our organization,” Lamoureux said.
Practical advice for safer use
Lamoureux emphasized that overdose prevention starts with informed decisions. “To prevent overdose, it’s always better to use not alone,” she said. “Have a friend with you or come to an OPS. Test your drug, know what’s in it, and do it gradually. Avoid mixing substances and always have naloxone with you”.
IRIS Estrie is the only overdose prevention site in the Estrie region, offering supervised consumption, drug testing, and access to naloxone. The site operates Tuesday to Saturday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., and sees increasing demand. “There’s a lot more people coming in and using our services, and we have more situations where we needed to monitor the person,” Lamoureux noted.
Gaps and challenges
The region’s size and population needs present ongoing challenges. “Estrie is quite large,” Lamoureux acknowledged, adding that while discussions about mobile services for drug-checking are underway, permanent OPS coverage across the territory remains uncertain. “Every year is a battle to keep [our site] alive. We’re working with public health to make it permanent.”
She underlined the necessity for broader government investment. “If we want to tackle the overdose crisis, there needs to be money everywhere—in prevention, centres like ours, STI testing, safe supply, naloxone, and treatment. Access to treatment is sometimes difficult, and not everyone wants therapy. There need to be options because we’re talking about humans losing their lives.”
Breaking stigma, building community
According to Lamoureux, reducing stigma around drug use is essential to saving lives. “This event is an occasion to reduce the stigmatisation, promote harm reduction, and remind people that health and dignity must be at the heart of our collective actions,” she said.
IRIS Estrie encourages the public to attend Friday’s event, learn about harm reduction, and take advantage of the free services offered. Donations to support their work can be made online or by cheque, as the organization operates as a non-profit. “We’re always welcoming people to come by and try our services,” Lamoureux added.
For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page or contact IRIS Estrie at udii@irisestrie.org.