It comes as today (31 August) is International Overdose Awareness Day
An overdose awareness event is taking place today (31 August) in Newbridge Town Hall.
The event is on between 1pm and 3pm, and is an opportunity to learn more about naloxone, harm reduction and how people can help save a life.
Naloxone can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and provide vital time for emergency help to arrive.
The event forms part of International Overdose Awareness Day by South Western Substance Use Regional Forum (SURF), which is followed by National Recovery Month for September.
It's in partnership with Peter McVerry Trust and the HSE addiction team.
Speaking on Kildare Today, manager for SURF, Grace Hill said that harm reduction is a major part of their approach:
"It's important to create awareness that overdose is preventable, and that harm reduction services are available in your community.
"Harm reduction can look like a cup of tea for people, in terms of support for people and starting that conversation about how people are using and why they're using, it can be a sleeping bag to reduce the effect of the elements for people sleeping rough, it can be clean equipment for someone to use substances more safely."
She also praised the presence of an injecting facility in Dublin, and that SURF, along with Peter McVerry Trust are working on the "frontline" in Kildare to act as a support to people.
Grace also highlighted naloxone as an important life-saving measure to help provide time for emergency help to arrive:
"Naloxone is used as a harm reduction approach, people who work on the frontline like the HSE would have naloxone available to them.
"It's very easy to use, it'll be highlighted today and the HSE are going to be helping us to inform people who it can be used to save lives in bad situations."
Looking ahead to National Recovery Month, Grace believes it's important to highlight the supports available, while also remembering those that have passed away from overdoses.
"It's never been more important for people to know about the supports available, especially on the eve of recovery month.
"It's very important to reflect and remember those that did lose their fight on the journey, and maybe didn't get that live saving naloxone or that cup of tea."
The full interview can be heard below:
HELPLINES
HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline- 1800 459 459
SURF - 045 875111
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