FRIENDS and family of those lost to drugs and alcohol held a remembrance event this week at Irvine’s Low Green to mark international Overdose Awareness Day.1

The event, held on Monday, August 31, was organised by Turning Point Scotland’s North Ayrshire Prevention, Early Intervention and Recovery (PEAR) service.

The drop-in event saw flowers cast into the river to commemorate the lives of those who have sadly passed away across North Ayrshire.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald:

As well as staff from Turning Point, employees of North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s Caley Court addictions service and Thelma Bowers, Head of Service for Mental Health at NAHASCP, were there.

READ MORE: Twenty five North Ayrshire drug deaths recorded in 2020

Turning Point Scotland’s North Ayrshire PEAR service manager, Jennifer Lang, said: “As we marked Overdose Awareness Day, we wanted to focus on working in partnership with communities to ensure people have access to life-saving naloxone. Our staff were available at the event to provide naloxone kits and advice to anyone who needed it.

“We also had a table with information for family and friends who have lost a loved one or have concerns about a loved one, as well as information for individuals struggling with their own drug or alcohol use on how to access support.”

Thelma Bowers, Head of Service for Mental Health at North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “This event was a poignant reminder that behind every drug death statistic was a human being who was loved and is missed by their families and friends.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald:

“By working together with our partner organisations like Turning Point Scotland we hope that we can help to reduce the stigma surrounding drug deaths, as well as providing support to the individuals, families and communities affected and sharing the message that recovery is possible.”

Turning Point Scotland would like to thank Sunnyside Nursery in Kilwinning for kindly donating the flowers for the event, and would also like to thank Tesco for providing bottled water and tissues.

For more information Turning Point Scotland’s PEAR service, visit www.turningpointscotland.com/north-ayrshire-pear, call 01294 447407, or email northayrshireinfo@turningpointscotland.com