RYAN SEAN SAWCHUK JANUARY 7TH 1980-JULY 6TH 2024

OVERDOSE AWARENESS

We don’t need more statistics. We need more truth

Ryan was not a number.

He was not a case file.

He was not an addict.

He was a human being — full of kindness, humour, and raw talent.

But like so many others, Ryan was swallowed by a system that was never built to help him heal.

For 22 years, Ryan was institutionalized — passed from one system to another. Correctional facilities. Psychiatric holds. Programs that treated symptoms but never addressed the root cause: trauma, pain, mental health.

Ryan was funny. He was an incredibly gifted artist. He was soft-spoken, kind, and brilliant in ways the world never got to fully see. I was blessed to be part of his life for his final years, to give him a sense of normalcy that the system never could.

But even love can’t undo 22 years of systemic failure.

On July 6, 2024, Ryan died of a fentanyl overdose.

He didn’t want to die.

He wanted to heal.

But our systems failed him — just like they’ve failed so many others.

The Real Overdose Crisis — What They Don’t Tell You

Addiction isn’t a moral failing. It isn’t a choice.

It’s a symptom of untreated pain and mental health struggles.

And when we criminalize addiction instead of supporting healing, we bury people.

Here’s what the statistics reveal — and what they hide:

In Canada, over 42,000 people have died from apparent opioid toxicity since 2016. (Government of Canada, 2024)

Fentanyl is responsible for 8 out of 10 opioid overdose deaths.

The crisis is not confined to “the streets” — it affects families, professionals, students, and people in every community.

Overdose deaths continue to rise because stigma silences people. Fear keeps them from seeking help.

Policies criminalize survival.

The real killer isn’t just the substance — it’s the silence, the stigma, and the system.

Overdose Awareness is More Than Statistics — It’s Faces, Stories, Lives

I carry Ryan’s story not just as grief, but as fuel for advocacy.

His life, and his death, demand that we stop turning away.

We need:

Policy change — decriminalization, harm reduction, and mental health support that meets people where they’re at.

Education — to break the stigma and rewrite the narrative around addiction.

Compassion — because behind every overdose is a human being worthy of care, dignity, and a chance to heal.

Ryan deserved that chance. So do countless others.

His story doesn’t end here. I will keep speaking. I will keep fighting.

Because the silence won’t bury us. The truth will set us free.

If you or someone you love is struggling, know this: You are not alone.

There is no shame in the fight. And there is always hope.

In Loving Memory of Ryan

Lime Green for Mental Health. Purple for Overdose Awareness. His legacy for change.

Key Facts About the Overdose Crisis

The Silent Epidemic

The overdose crisis is not new. It has been escalating for nearly a decade, worsened by a toxic drug supply, stigma, lack of accessible treatment, and policy inaction.

In contrast, COVID-19 triggered swift, large-scale government response. Yet, despite overdose deaths now matching — or exceeding — COVID-19 fatalities, the same urgency has not been applied.

We Need to Act

This is no longer just a health crisis — it is a failure of policy and compassion. Canada needs:

RYAN SEAN SAWCHUK JANUARY 7TH 1980-JULY 6TH 2024

OVERDOSE AWARENESS

We don’t need more statistics. We need more truth

Ryan was not a number.

He was not a case file.

He was not an addict.

He was a human being — full of kindness, humour, and raw talent.

But like so many others, Ryan was swallowed by a system that was never built to help him heal.

For 22 years, Ryan was institutionalized — passed from one system to another. Correctional facilities. Psychiatric holds. Programs that treated symptoms but never addressed the root cause: trauma, pain, mental health.

Ryan was funny. He was an incredibly gifted artist. He was soft-spoken, kind, and brilliant in ways the world never got to fully see. I was blessed to be part of his life for his final years, to give him a sense of normalcy that the system never could.

But even love can’t undo 22 years of systemic failure.

On July 6, 2024, Ryan died of a fentanyl overdose.

He didn’t want to die.

He wanted to heal.

But our systems failed him — just like they’ve failed so many others.

The Real Overdose Crisis — What They Don’t Tell You

Addiction isn’t a moral failing. It isn’t a choice.

It’s a symptom of untreated pain and mental health struggles.

And when we criminalize addiction instead of supporting healing, we bury people.

Here’s what the statistics reveal — and what they hide:

In Canada, over 42,000 people have died from apparent opioid toxicity since 2016. (Government of Canada, 2024)

Fentanyl is responsible for 8 out of 10 opioid overdose deaths.

The crisis is not confined to “the streets” — it affects families, professionals, students, and people in every community.

Overdose deaths continue to rise because stigma silences people. Fear keeps them from seeking help.

Policies criminalize survival.

The real killer isn’t just the substance — it’s the silence, the stigma, and the system.

Overdose Awareness is More Than Statistics — It’s Faces, Stories, Lives

I carry Ryan’s story not just as grief, but as fuel for advocacy.

His life, and his death, demand that we stop turning away.

We need:

Policy change — decriminalization, harm reduction, and mental health support that meets people where they’re at.

Education — to break the stigma and rewrite the narrative around addiction.

Compassion — because behind every overdose is a human being worthy of care, dignity, and a chance to heal.

Ryan deserved that chance. So do countless others.

His story doesn’t end here. I will keep speaking. I will keep fighting.

Because the silence won’t bury us. The truth will set us free.

If you or someone you love is struggling, know this: You are not alone.

There is no shame in the fight. And there is always hope.

In Loving Memory of Ryan

Lime Green for Mental Health. Purple for Overdose Awareness. His legacy for change.

Key Facts About the Overdose Crisis

Fentanyl is involved in approximately 75% of opioid overdose deaths (Government of Canada, 2024a).

83% of overdose deaths occur in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario (Government of Canada, 2024a).

Overdose deaths continue to rise, while COVID-19 deaths have significantly declined (Government of Canada, 2024b).

People aged 30–39, especially men, are the most affected demographic (Government of Canada, 2024a).

The Silent Epidemic

The overdose crisis is not new. It has been escalating for nearly a decade, worsened by a toxic drug supply, stigma, lack of accessible treatment, and policy inaction.

In contrast, COVID-19 triggered swift, large-scale government response. Yet, despite overdose deaths now matching — or exceeding — COVID-19 fatalities, the same urgency has not been applied.

We Need to Act

This is no longer just a health crisis — it is a failure of policy and compassion. Canada needs:

Decriminalization of substance use.

Accessible harm reduction services nationwide.

Culturally safe, trauma-informed mental health and addiction support.

A public health response to overdose that matches — or exceeds — the response to COVID-19.