drum
Purpose of Website and APP
Drugs, especially those laced with fentanyl, are taking countless Indigenous lives in cities and communities—leaving few families untouched. Much information, though well-intentioned, often appears too foreign and disconnected from those who need it most. To be of value, digital information also has to be accessible to those it is intended to serve.
In response to this crisis, the website Operation Drum (O.D.) is being built to help those suffering from substance abuse disorders, and their families and communities. The O.D. website is intended to provide indigenous people with the opportunity to call for real change, and to share useful information and opinions.
O.D. will also seek to provide a purposely built, culturally-appropriate, and easily-to-use and accessible phone application that can offer some or all of the information described, as well as easy access to local emergency contact information, and general information to reduce the number of deaths from over dose.
The Operation Drum Foundation has been incorporated on November 22, 2022 to serve as a non-profit vehicle to achieve these ends.
While O.D. is the acronym for overdose, it is used in this context is to mean Operation Drum. For Indigenous Peoples the drum is commonly used as a metaphor for the heartbeat of humanity. Like the Raven bringing sunlight to illuminate the world, the O.D. website is intended to be the drumbeat bringing light to the horrific impacts of drug overdose deaths, to call for constructive action, and to provide accessible and useful information for families and communities.
Whoever you are, we would like your input and feedback on how to make this a useful and valuable tool to stem the tide of family carnage that we are facing. Please feel to send us your thoughts on our email below—we particularly welcome those suggestions on how we can help from those suffering from substance abuse disorders.
Why a Website?
Many Indigenous people use drugs seeking to numb the pain, anxiety, disempowerment, and the despair they feel of living a life based on historical and personal trauma. For them, the compass that guides others to a healthy existence remains hidden behind a dark curtain, hiding lives riven with unimaginable tragedy. Today indigenous families are being devastated by drug overdose deaths which have increased dramatically during the pandemic.
Unfortunately, death by overdose for indigenous people is loaded with social and moral stigmas (likely a hangover from historical Christian views where excessive drug use was considered a “sin” and “weakness”). Many have strong feelings of anger, helplessness, guilt and shame. Some feel it reflects badly on their families or communities. Instead of discussing, examining, and seeking collective solutions to a huge problem, there is often uncomfortable silence—as the veiled killer of children and family members takes a heavy toll.
Since an overdose health emergency was declared seven years ago in British Columbia more than 8,700 people have died—second only to cancer in terms of potential years of life lost (and a higher death rate than from COVID-19).¹
[1] Lisa Cordasco, Complete Framework of care needed to battle overdose crisis, Vancouver Sun, March 10, 2022, p. A3. Online Source. https://epaper.vancouversun.com/vancouver-sun.
This website is intended to provide all indigenous people the opportunity to call for real change, share information, opinions, and provide useful information. Specifically, the purpose of this website is to:
- Examine the language and mindset commonly used to stigmatize how “addictions” and “addicts” are perceived so that Indigenous people and communities openly discuss the problem and potential solutions
- Debunk myths relating to Indigenous Peoples and substance use disorders (SUDs)
- Provide basic information about SUDs from personal, spiritual, medical, and physiological perspectives
- Act as a discussion forum for:
o Families on the issues they face in coping with a family member suffering from SUDs, and/or dealing with the grief of losing a family member
o Those suffering from SUDs to articulate what they experience, how they feel, how they perceive how they are treated and impact those around them, etc.
o Fomenting and focusing attention on what action might be taken politically/socially for constructive change to stop the carnage—think MADD.
While O.D. is the acronym for overdose, it is being used in this website to mean Operation Drum. Amongst Indigenous Peoples the drum is commonly used as a metaphor for the heartbeat of humanity. Like the Raven bringing sunlight to illuminate the world, this website is intended to be the drumbeat bringing light to the horrific impacts of drug overdose deaths, to call for constructive action, and to provide accessible and useful information for families and communities. We have attempted to keep the information short and sweet as far as is possible given the matters are often convoluted and complex and there are disagreements as to causes of drug use and solutions, but the information herein should be useful to communities, families and drug users.
Everybody has their own opinions on alcohol and drug addiction, but until you’ve been there, your opinion means nothing. You don’t control addiction, it controls you. There are some lucky ones who have beaten it, but don’t think because they’re still alive, that it is a charmed life. They fight every day to stay sober and clean. It’s a constant battle from the time they open their eyes until they close them, and it never goes away. Most are good people who made a bad choice.
Battling an addiction is a beast for the person addicted and for the ones who love them. So, in loving memory of every family member and friend who has lost their battle with addiction, and those who continue to conquer it, share this website through your social media if you know someone who has, or has had an addiction.
Why an App?
Today almost everyone has a cellphone. An app will be developed that will be able to provide families and communities with critical information in case of emergencies. Who to call in case of an overdose, where to get narcan kits for homes or place of work, what online sources are there for more information on related issues, etc. The purpose of the app is to put such readily available information at anyone’s fingertips.
To Donate to Operation Drum Foundation
To help Operation Drum reach it’s goals in helping our community,
visit our page at DonorBox.
OPERATION DRUM