Windsor Overdose Prevention Society to pass out naloxone kits at funeral

Family and friends will gather Monday to remember Josh Chouinard's life — and funeral-goers can take home a naloxone kit. 

The 17-year-old died one week ago from an apparent overdose, which was streamed on social media. 

The Windsor Overdose Prevention Society set up a supervised site in various locations throughout the last week to give drug users a safe space to use and to inform the public on prevention. 

At Chouinard's funeral, members of the society will be handing out naloxone kits. 

"Our first priority is to support the family," said Melissa Carriere. "I thought it would be a good idea to give Josh's friends and family a naloxone kit."

Carriere is a social worker and regular volunteer with Windsor's Overdose Prevention Society, who is also close to the Chouinard family. 

"They feel this is an important thing to do," said Carriere. The family has asked for donations to be made to the Windsor Overdose Prevention Society in Chouinard's memory. 

Brandon Bailey, member of Windsor OPS, said it was a special request made by the family for the group to hand out the kits and also offer training to people on how to use the kits.

"If you want these teenagers to be trained, that's the least we could do," said Bailey. "I feel like everybody should be trained."

According to Carriere, some family members have also offered to volunteer with the Windsor Overdose Prevention Society in the future.

Carriere is hoping handing out naloxone won't become a "spectacle."

"We're not going to make a big deal about it — this is a time for grieving, for celebrating Josh's life," said Carriere, who also hopes to lead a public education program especially for teenagers in the near future.