Independent Perspective #1612

Guest:  Desiree Wlodarck

Topic:  International Overdose Awareness Day in Lockport

Duration:  05:45

Published:  September 1, 2020

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living (WNYIL). Our guest today is Desiree Wlodarek, Addict 2 Addict Peer Specialist at Independent Living of Niagara County (ILNC), and your host is yours truly, Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program, Desiree.

Guest:  Thanks, Ernie. Good to be here.

Host:  Our pleasure to have you. You're here because in this age of COVID-19, a lot of people are forgetting that there are other concerns besides the coronavirus, that can be a threat to people's continuing health. And something that was such a major emphasis in New York State just a couple of years ago, is being forgotten by a lot of people but that doesn't mean that you're forgetting it. You are in charge of a local observance of, a special activity, about this other threat, called International Overdose Awareness Day in Lockport. If you could please tell us what that's about and what will take place?

Guest:  Yeah, that will be happening Monday at Veterans Park and also virtually on Facebook. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. on Monday. And what it is it’s a memorial and awareness of the opioid epidemic. And that we are still losing people, in the isolation of COVID has actually made people's addictions worse, that we're already struggling in that need, those social supports. So, this is an opportunity for our family and community to come together to learn actions that they can take to prevent overdose, as well as an opportunity for them to come together as a community with lost people.

Host:  Indeed, and we should probably say before we go any further when you say Monday, you're talking about, August 31, 2020. So that's coming up really fast, but since they have been arrangements, I believe that the city of Lockport is allowing some in person attendees at the park, but not a whole lot. Could you tell us more about the different options of attending?

Guest:  Yes, they're asking us to limit it to 50 people in the park. There will be masks and hand sanitizer available. And the other option is to join us for a Facebook Live event on the Addict 2 Addict Niagara Facebook page.

Host:  Could you tell people what the URL for the Facebook pages so they can go right to it?

Guest:  You know what I don't have that in front of me.

Host:  Well, would it be fairly safe to say that if people put Addict 2 Addict Niagara in Facebook in their search engine, they would most likely come across it?

Guest:  Yes, most definitely.

Host:  Great. And so there, they will find a link that people can connect to the live streaming event. And plus, there's an extra benefit for people with hearing impairments, could you tell us about that?

Guest:  Yes, it will be accessible with CART. And you can help me out with what that stands for, Ernie?

Host: Yeah. I believe it's something like Communication Access Real-time Translation or some such thing. With this CART the individual who is hard of hearing or deaf can see an open captions, of what is being said, essentially, as it's being spoken because someone with a court stenographers machine is putting it into a computer which is allowing it to be displayed. And we're running low on time. Is there anything else people can do to get more information on the event besides looking up Sarah Lanzo’s column in the Lockport Union-Sun Journal?

Guest:  Yeah, so if anyone has any questions, they can also call me Desiree Wlodarek, at 430-8581.

Host:  Terrific. Well, it's an exciting thing that you're coordinating for the community of people with addictions, and part of a worldwide effort that's been around since 2001 in Melbourne, Australia, and we're glad that Lockport is able to participate, thanks so much for being with us.

Guest:  Thank you, Ernie, I appreciate it.

Host:  You've been listening to Independent Perspective, a Public Affairs presentation of WNYIL. Our guest today was Desiree Wlodarek, Addict 2 Addict Peer Specialist with ILNC, and your host was yours truly, Ernie Churchwell.