Anti-Stigma Day

Join us every year on June 26 at Millenium Park!

Background + Information

In 2021, EFRY began hosting an annual community event called Anti Stigma Day every June 26.

This day is currently earmarked by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as “International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking”, and supports the War on Drugs through social media campaigns, information, etc.

Following the lead from Support Don’t Punish’s Global Day of Action, we recognize that campaigns like the one by UNODC serve to further stigmatize and ostracize our peers who use substances, and the information put forward by campaigns like these can be harmful in many ways, which we unfortunately often see locally, at an alarmingly increasing rate.

We aim to raise awareness and education in the Peterborough community regarding the negative impact stigma can have on those who use substances, and offer practical ways to combat stigma (language, carrying Naloxone, educating others, etc.). Our peer support staff, who are all people with lived and living experience, complete Naloxone training throughout Peterborough on this day, and travel around to engage in conversations with individuals via outreach methods. Our staff wear Anti-Stigma t shirts, with a new design each year!

Our ultimate hope is for agencies to participate in ways that make sense to them – whether that is as simple as sharing social media posts we prepare, posting a #StigmaKills photo (holding up a sign, etc.), or attending the event in support. The more participation and support we garner, the further the messages will spread!

Global News and other local media attend this event each year as well and provide media coverage.