February 15 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Many local residents are concerned about the opioid crisis and its effect on our communities. At the same time, very few people really understand drug use, the process of addiction, and the mental and physical aspects of substance use. In the second event of its speaker series, Respect and Connect: A better community for us all is pleased to welcome Zak Matieschyn, a Nurse Practitioner who has completed an Addiction Fellowship with the BC Centre for Substance Use. Zak will be joined by several people with lived experience of substance use, who will tell us their personal stories on how they became involved in using substances, and its effect on their lives. The event is free of charge, either in person at The Bailey Theatre (50 people max), or online.
Zak Matieschyn is committed to making life better for people who use drugs. In his addiction practice in Nelson, he meets people from all walks of life whose lives have been impacted – sometimes profoundly – by substance use. Based on his many years in policy development and practice, Zak has developed a very pragmatic approach to addressing issues of addiction and substance use, and supporting his patients as best he can. According to Zak, “The changing drug supply over the past few years has made my practice much more challenging. Fentanyl is found in over 85% of people who die due to drug use in our province, sometimes on its own and sometimes included in other substances such as cocaine or methamphetamines. It is so potent that our traditional treatment options don’t always work.”
Toxic drugs are the leading cause of death among British Columbians aged 19 to 39 and the most common cause of unnatural death in BC, overtaking all homicides, motor vehicles incidents, suicides and other accidental causes combined, according to BC’s chief coroner, Lisa Lapointe. By Health Authority, Interior Health had the second highest rate of death due to illicit drug use in 2021 (45 deaths per 100,000 people), second only to Vancouver Coastal Health (48 deaths per 100,000 individuals).
COVID-19 Policy: All in-person attendees 12 years of age and/or older must present their BC Vaccine Passport showing two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination AND Government Photo Identification. Masks must be worn at all times.
Respect and Connect: A better community for us all is brought to you by the Trail Community Action Team, Trail and District Arts Council, Selkirk College & Mir Centre for Peace and School of Academic Upgrading & Development, and the Trail and District Public Library.
Stay tuned for our second event in February – screening of the film, The Public, followed by the Coldest Night of the Year walk and fundraiser on Saturday, February 26.
Town: Rossland, BC