'Black Poster Project' In Brick To Honor Lives Lost To Addiction

BRICK, NJ — The stresses of the coronavirus pandemic have taken a toll on people in a variety of ways, not the least of which has been increases in addiction and deaths from overdoses.

In Ocean County, 161 people have died of suspected overdoses through Aug. 31 this year, up 26 percent from 127 at the same time last year, according to the state's NJCARES website, which tracks drug addiction and overdose information across New Jersey.

Each of those deaths leaves grieving family members and friends.

On Saturday at Windward Beach Park, a memorial titled The Black Poster Project will be constructed to remember the lives of more than 200 people who have died as a result of substance use disorder.

"It stands as a reminder of the sorrow this deadly disease causes, that all of us have been touched in one way or another, and that as a community we can remember the many who are no longer with us," Brick Township police said in a post about the project.

The exhibit will start at 2 p.m. and will be taken down at 4 p.m. It takes more than two hours to set up, so you can see it being constructed if you wish to come before 2 p.m.

The Black Poster Project was created by Dee Gillen after her son, Scott, died of a heroin/fentanyl overdose in 2015 at 27.

People are asked to come and look at each one — to look at their faces, and look into their eyes.

"They will 'speak back; perhaps one of these faces may be someone familiar," the project's webpage says. The hope is to bring home the message that addiction is not confined to any single group of people.

"Undoubtedly, questions (will arise) of how this could have happened to this baseball player, this musician, this father, this mother? Be assured that the families left behind are no different than the observers and have asked the same exact questions at some point," the site says.

People who would like to have a loved one added to the Black Poster Project should contact Gillen at theblackposterproject@gmail.com or call/text 201-906-9055. There is no cost to be included and the poster will become part of the awareness project at future events.

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