Hours after B.C. reported its highest-ever six-month total of overdose deaths, hundreds gathered in Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Kerry Park on Tuesday evening, Aug. 31, calling for decriminalization and an end to the stigma surrounding substance use.

The event, organized by the Kelowna committee of Moms Stop The Harm (MSTH), coincided with International Overdose Awareness Day. New data from the BC Coroners Service revealed that a total of 1,011 suspected illicit drug toxicity deaths were recorded between January and June 2021, on pace for more than 2,000 this year.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 really tragic. It91裸聊视频檚 a significant sign that everything we91裸聊视频檙e doing is not making any difference,91裸聊视频� said Helen Jennens, a member of MSTH Kelowna who lost her two sons to drug overdoses.

According to data from BC Coroners Service, Kelowna has the fourth-highest number of fatal overdoses in B.C. over the last 10 years, behind only Vancouver, Surrey and Victoria. Kelowna had a total of 369 deaths caused by illicit drug toxicity from January 2011 to June 30, 2021, 25 of those coming since the beginning of this year.

READ MORE: B.C. on track to lose more than 2,000 people to illicit drug poisonings this year

91裸聊视频淭he big problem is the toxic market. The drugs are just lethal. Until we stop that, people are gonna continue dying,91裸聊视频� said Jennens.

Addiction, she said, is a multilayered issue that has no simple solution.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 going to take a long time. In the meantime, we need a safe supply just to save lives because a dead drug user will never recover. This event is important in telling people that,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淲e need to raise awareness and get rid of the stigma that surrounds substance use. It91裸聊视频檚 a mental health issue and a medical disorder. People should be treated the same way as anybody else that is ill.91裸聊视频�

Several addiction and recovery resources were on-site, such as Living Positive Resource Centre who provided naloxone training, Freedom91裸聊视频檚 Door, Celebrate Recovery, Interior Health and KCR Community Resources. The names and pictures of 19 people who died from drug overdoses were also displayed.

Also in attendance was Joan Phillip, the NDP candidate for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola, and Kelowna city councillor Loyal Wooldridge.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 mainly here for our son. Three years ago, he overdosed on carfentanil. I just want to give a heartfelt thank you for everyone being here,91裸聊视频� said Phillip. 91裸聊视频淲e need people; we need resources like the ones that are here to assist our children.91裸聊视频�

Wooldridge echoed Jennens91裸聊视频檚 sentiment on people suffering from addiction, calling it complicated and slippery.

91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� People who use substances deserve to be considered with the same weight as those with acute illnesses,91裸聊视频� said Wooldridge.

91裸聊视频淲e have to continue to work towards decriminalization and reducing stigma so that we can continue to support people so that we don91裸聊视频檛 see tragedies like this in the future.91裸聊视频�

Jennens said that the solution to the overdose epidemic is decriminalization and a safe supply.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a short-term fix and we still need to create systems of recovery and treatment, concurrent care for mental health and substance use,91裸聊视频� she said.

She added that she hopes that people walked away from the event with a sense of compassion.

91裸聊视频淭hese people don91裸聊视频檛 deserve to die 91裸聊视频� Understanding that these moms here have lost a child,91裸聊视频� she said.

READ MORE: Kelowna overdose deaths 4th-highest in B.C. over the last decade

91裸聊视频� With files from Ashley Wadhwani, Katya Slepian and Paula Tran