‘Stories of Hope & Candlelight Vigil’ Scheduled for Overdose Awareness Day

The public is invited to participate in an event on International Overdose Awareness Day, August 31^st, from 7 – 9 pm at Glades Park Pavilion at 10 Spruce Lane, Oakland, MD. The Stories of Hope & Candlelight Vigil is designed to raise awareness that overdose affects all walks of life and it is preventable.

Across the county municipalities are participating by placing purple ribbons on their town signs during the week preceding the event.

“We encourage the community to show their support to help create awareness about overdose prevention, and to support families and friends who have lost loved ones to overdose by tying a purple ribbon on a tree or on your mailbox that week,” said Prevention Coordinator Sadie Liller. “People lost to overdose are not just statistics – they are family and friends.”

The Stories of Hope will begin at 7:00 p.m. with various community members telling their stories. The candlelight vigil portion of the event will take place at the end of the evening. Participants may bring a picture of a loved one they lost to addiction to be included on the remembrance table.

“Come join us to understand how overdose affects each one of us and to remember the loved ones we have lost,” said Liller. “It’s time to remember – it’s time to act.”

For more information about this event, call 301-334-7730 or 301-895-3111. These events are brought to you by BHA, SAMHSA, Garrett County Drug-Free Communities Action Teams, and Garrett County Health Department.

International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held on August 31 each year which aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of drug overdose.

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department