Health & Fitness
Communities to Observe International Overdose Awareness Day
Awareness Day takes place on Friday, August 31
The Middlesex County Coalition for Healthy Communities, in collaboration with Dunellen, South Amboy and Old Bridge, will host special Candlelight Vigils and Name Reading Ceremonies in observance of International Overdose Awareness Day on Friday, August 31.
It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have met with death or permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. Overdose Day spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable.
Globally, there is an estimated minimum of 190,900 premature deaths caused by drugs (range: 115,900 to 230,100). Opioids account for the majority of drug-related deaths and in most cases such deaths are avoidable.
Find out what's happening in East Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Drug overdoses killed 63,632 Americans in 2016. Nearly two-thirds of these deaths (66%) involved a prescription or illicit opioid. Overdose deaths increased in all categories of drugs examined for men and women, people ages 15 and older, all races and ethnicities, and across all levels of urbanization.
These events are also a time to acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. This day is a way to spread the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable, that resources are available and that recovery is possible.
Find out what's happening in East Brunswickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The public is invited to these free events where luminaries will adorn each location, representing love for all who have lost someone and hope for those still struggling with substance use. Local recovery support resources will be available
At each event the public is also encouraged to bring and dispose of unwanted, expired and unneeded prescription drugs at an available mobile prescription disposal box to properly discard of them and prevent further drug misuse.
For more information or to become involved in the planning of this and other recovery support events, contact Mara Carlin from the Coalition for Health Communities at 732.254.3344 or Mara.Carlin@wellspringprevention.org.
