About
The opioids project that almost wasn't.
Every day, 21 Canadians lose their lives to opioid-related overdoses. Behind each statistic is a person—a life, a family, a story.
In May 2021, we entered a UBC Department of Psychiatry competition as middle and high school students, pitching our idea to combat the opioid crisis against much older people. We made it to the finals but ultimately didn’t win.
It could have ended there. But the experience awoke something inside of us. We knew this work couldn’t stop with a competition.
We turned our idea into a complete project aimed at reducing stigma around opioids in Canada. We’re creating a series of interviews that share the stories of individuals in recovery and their families. These stories put a human face on the crisis, showing that opioid addiction affects ordinary people from all walks of life—not just the stereotypes or marginalized groups often portrayed.
Through these authentic, heartfelt accounts, we hope to replace stigma with understanding and compassion. By sharing these voices, we want to help others see the humanity behind the crisis and inspire change in attitudes, policies, and support systems.
We’re seeking voices to share and audiences to listen. Together, we can shift perspectives and bring light to one of the most urgent issues facing our communities.
From strangers to partners and friends, here’s a retrospective of our first year together!
Schedule permitting, you can book us for a live appearance
Virtual presentations and workshops are also available
Can you help?
Talk Overdose is a project of Youth4Youth Canada, a social good organization founded and managed by four Indigenous girls of Swampy Cree and Mi’gmaq culture. It is funded through grants and individual donations and strives only to spread as much positivity as possible while breaking even.