When a friend or family member passes away, the response is often food, hugs, shoulders to cry on, and ears to listen. When someone dies from a drug overdose, blame, shame, and guilt are often echoed in the faces and actions of others when the news is shared. This Wednesday is International Overdose Awareness Day, a day to remember all of the loved ones our community has lost, while shedding the stigma that goes along with it.

It’s a day to open your eyes and hearts to something that truly impacts us all. In 2021, the St. Louis Metro Region accounted for 48% of all drug overdose deaths in Missouri and 79% of all drug overdose deaths among Black individuals in Missouri. More people in the state of Missouri die from drug overdoses than car accidents. At this point, it seems everyone has been affected by an overdose death.

In the spirit of raising awareness, a caravan of decorated vehicles will travel throughout the community on Wednesday, starting at the Jefferson County Library, Northwest Branch, at 5680 Missouri PP, High Ridge, MO. 63049. The event will begin at 5:30PM to allow time for attendees to decorate their vehicles in purple and/or with pictures of loved ones. Welcome remarks will take place at 6:30PM, and the caravan will immediately follow.

Information on local resources and limited amounts of Narcan will be available for distribution to attendees.

 

What: International Overdose Awareness Day Observation

When: 08/31/2022 at 5:30 p.m.

Where: Jefferson County Library, Northwest Branch, 5680 Missouri PP, High Ridge, MO  63049

https://healstopheroin.org/international-overdose-aw

 

Sponsor organizations include:

HEAL: Stop Heroin

Missouri Network for Opiate Reform and Recovery

PreventEd

SOUL (Surviving Overdose and Understanding Loss)

Jefferson County Health Department

Jefferson County Drug Prevention Coalition