Rural Recovery will observe International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) in South County

Rural Recovery will observe International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) in South County by holding a Remembrance Vigil at Town Hall Park in Great Barrington at 6:00 pm on Tuesday August 31

Held on August 31 every year, the aim of IOAD is to raise awareness, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths, remember those who have died or suffered permanent injury because of drug overdose, and stimulate discussion about overdose prevention and drug policy.

The day features rallies, memorial services, candlelight vigils, as well as, education and training campaigns in towns and cities across the world.

Rural Recovery urges people in South County to get involved in IOAD this year at Town Hall Park in Great Barrington.

“If people want to help raise awareness and fight the stigma surrounding overdose they can attend our Remembrance Vigil at Town Hall Park in Great Barrington at 6:00 pm on Tuesday August 31.

Come along, bring your friends, bring a candle, and help achieve change in South County.

People in South County can also wear an International Overdose Awareness Day badge, lanyard or wristband to show their support and use the hashtags #OverdoseAware and #EndOverdose on social media to boost awareness.

Have the conversation with your friends and family and spread the message that overdose is a problem affecting every community including South County

Rural Recovery also encourages people in the South County community to think differently about drug overdose.

No community is immune to overdose; it is time to change the way we looked at drug-related deaths in South County.

We need to stop pretending overdose doesn’t happen; the figures show that overdoses are affecting cities and towns across the nation, and the Commonwealth including South County. Berkshire County as a whole saw a 44% increase in overdose deaths in 2020”

IOAD is also an opportunity to consider whether current overdose and substance use strategies are working.

Taking a hard-line approach and treating drug use as moral failing won’t help people at risk.

We need to treat drug-related harm as a public health issue and invest in proven practices that can save lives; no community, including South Berkshire County, should be left behind.”

Event or Activity Details:

WHAT: International Overdose Awareness Day Remembrance Vigil
WHEN: Tuesday August 31 at 6:00pm

WHERE: Town Hall Park (Gazebo)

To get involved with the building of the South County Recovery Center visit our website at www.rural-recovery.org or reach out to help@rural-recovery.org

To find out more about International Overdose Awareness Day, including how to purchase wristbands and badges, visit: www.overdoseday.com