With more than 1,100 overdose deaths across B.C. so far this year, one Victoria woman is taking small steps to help harm reduction efforts.
Ga毛lle Nicolussi is the creator behind Radical Buttons, a Victoria-based Etsy shop that makes buttons with social justice messages. Her most popular include B次元官网网址淓nd mental health stigmaB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淪mash the patriarchy.B次元官网网址�
After three years in business, Nicolussi launched a new button design on Nov. 15: B次元官网网址淚 carry naloxone.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 have a friend who is an outreach worker who gave me a sticker that said B次元官网网址榥aloxoneB次元官网网址� on it because I carry a kit with me everywhere, so itB次元官网网址檚 nice to let people know I have that on me,B次元官网网址� said Nicolussi. She decided to make a permanent version for everyday use.
Nicolussi has been carrying a kit for eight months, since taking the naloxone training with AID Vancouver Island through her work as a research associate for substance use at the University of Victoria. Then in August, she was trained again at Centennial Square during the International Overdose Awareness Day. SheB次元官网网址檚 taken the training twice this year so that if she ever witnesses an overdose, sheB次元官网网址檚 ready to help.
I carry naloxone 鉂ｏ笍
B次元官网网址� Radical Buttons (@RadicalButtons)
New button available in our Etsy shop!
Let people know you can save a life 鉂わ笍
Part of the proceeds from the sales of this button will be donated to a local non-profit
Available here:
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B次元官网网址淚 think buttons are a great way not only to raise awareness, but to start a conversation about the opioid crisis, how it is affecting our community and how we as individuals can do something to help,B次元官网网址� Nicolussi said.
Her buttons do more than spread a message: they also identify someone in case of an emergency, when there isnB次元官网网址檛 much time to react. So far in 2018, an average of 127 people in B.C. have died from overdoses per month, with 74 total cases in Victoria.
So far, Radical Buttons has sold around 30 buttons.
At $3 each, part of the proceeds from the B次元官网网址淚 carry naloxoneB次元官网网址� buttons will go to , where Nicolussi said she plans to donate dozens of buttons for their harm reduction workers.
Naloxone training can be found at .
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@KeiliBartlett
keili.bartlett@blackpress.ca
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