Denver drug users, supporters to grieve Overdose Awareness Week, lobby legislators

This sticky note is featured in the latest edition of the Harm Reduction Action Center newsletter.Photo byHarm Reduction Action Center

Denver is all too familiar with drug overdose deaths. Last year, 598 people in Denver died of a drug overdose, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Denverites see the epidemic of addiction on its streets. In some parts of town, it is difficult to tell whether the people lying on the sidewalk are alive or dead, many are in such states of inebriation.

But if it were not for Harm Reduction Action Center, or HRAC, even more people in the Mile-High City would die of overdose. The organization provides Narcan, the opioid antidote, to people who use drugs and those who interact with them. Narcan revives people who use opioids like fentanyl every day. HRAC educates people who use drugs about not using alone. But unfortunately, the overdoses continue. So far this year there have been 254 deaths, including 88 homeless people, HRAC stated in its August newsletter.

In the newsletter, the organization explains that for them, Overdose Awareness Day Aug. 31 and Overdose Awareness Week leading up to the observance is about grief. HRAC will hold a press conference Aug. 26 and will read a proclamation from the Denver City Council.

The organization encourages drug users and their supporters to write letters to the editor of local newspaers about overdose grief. “As harm reduction continues to be under attack around the country, and right here in our state, it's imperative we flood the news outlets with positive harm reduction messaging to let folks know that overdoses are preventable and the overwhelming grief of the deaths of our loved ones,” the newsletter urges. “Definitely let them know if your life was saved by naloxone and/or you have saved someone else's life with naloxone.”

‘Rage session’ planned

On Friday, Aug. 30, HRAC plans to recognize Overdose Awareness Day with its clients during a “rage session” from 1:30-4 p.m. According to the newsletter, “In the morning, we have our waffle gal dishing out sweet treats and tender moments with people who use drugs, our favorite folks in the world. In the afternoon, we'd love to see you ... we'll have ice cream. Pop by before you head out of town for Labor Day for a quick hug. Harm Reductionists give the best hugs.

Harm reductionists encourage people who use drugs to engage in practices that do as little damage as possible. For example, HRAC passes out free meth and crack pipes because smoking drugs is less harmful than injecting them, they reason. Harm reduction was born out of needle exchanges, which were created in response to the HIV epidemic. The idea was to reduce HIV and Hepatitis C transmission among intravenous drug users.

The scope of harm reduction practices has expanded beyond that in recent years. In San Francisco, harm reductionists give alcoholics free beer and vodka. The idea is that it is safer to drink at home than be out in public, according to harm reductionists.

‘Policy and change’ needed

A piece of art included in the newsletter shows a Post-it with “Thoughts and Prayers” crossed out and “Policy and Change” written beneath it. HRAC is urging its supporters to lobby legislators to fund the Naloxone bulk purchase fund in Colorado. “It takes less than a minute to encourage the Colorado Attorney General to provide steady funding for the Naloxone bulk purchase fund,” the newsletter reads, adding it takes “less than 4 minutes to contact the AG, Governor, Jill Hunsaker Ryan, and your legislators.”

For people looking to donate to HRAC, the organization could use some men’s shoes in size 10 and up, according to the newsletter.