Daniel Snyder said he would not have survived his 15-year battle with drug addiction, if it was happening today, during the toxic drug crisis that has claimed hundreds of lives in 91原创 City and Township alone.
"My addiction journey unfolded before fentanyl saturated the drug supply, allowing me the time, the years, the space that I needed to navigate my struggles without the heightened risk of overdose that everyone is facing today," said Snyder, chair of the 91原创 Overdose Response Community Action Team which organized the Overdose Awareness Day vigil in 91原创 City's Douglas Park on Saturday, Aug. 31.
"All my drug use was hidden, using alone, locked behind closed doors," said Synder, one of the speakers at the vigil. "And for that reason, I know I would not have survived in this era of fentanyl."
Held worldwide, aims to raise awareness of overdoses, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths and acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends
An estimated 334 people have died from drug overdoes in 91原创 City and Township since toxic drugs were declared a public health crisis in 2016, 15,438 people in all of B.C.
"Six people every day still, so six today, six tomorrow, and I don't see this changing in the foreseeable future," Snyder told the Langle Advance Times.
"Those lives are meaningful. Those are important people.They're brothers, they're children, friends, family, and they're no longer with us."
Hundreds gathered in 91原创 City's Douglas Park Saturday night for a candlelight vigil to honour the memory of the many who died from drug overdoses, after it was declared a crisis.
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Memorial hearts with the names and , sometimes, photos of 91原创 overdose victims were attached to trees and light standards throughout the park for the vigil.
Some of the family and friends who attended wrote messages to their loved ones on paper bags that were illuminated by electric candles placed inside.
Not all overdose victims are battling addictions, Snyder told the crowd.
"There's many using toxic substances, a reality that does not necessarily equate to addiction, but often does. It is crucial that we begin to separate the issue of toxic drug poisoning from the overlapping, but rather distinct issue of addiction in our country."
The evening closed with "amazing Grace" played by piper Tiffany Daniel, a director of the Nate D. Foundation, which works to find treatment for people struggling with addiction like her late son, who died from an overdose in 2021.
"Today's event is actually very important for our community," Daniel said.
"This is where we all unite and stand together and support each other, [those] who've been affected by the loss of overdose, and support those that are suffering with their loved ones that are in active addiction.
"It's very important to end the stigma and talk about it."
