Overdose awareness event Thursday will honor lost loved ones
By Cameron Montemayor and Leah Rainwater
City Hall will be bathed in purple light Thursday as local organizations and residents gather to remember those who have suffered the death of a loved one due to overdose.
The Buchanan County Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention has planned a remembrance event for International Overdose Awareness Day to take place on Thursday, Aug. 29, at Civic Center Park at City Hall.
”We don’t want to forget anyone,” said Stephanie Malita, the health educator and public information officer at the St. Joseph Health Department. “Everybody has a meaning behind their life and we want to remember them in particular and we want to help bring awareness that this is a mental health issue.”
The event offers a platform for those wishing to share the story of how they and their family have been affected by substance use disorder that can lead to overdose. Participants are encouraged to bring a photo or artifact to display in tribute.
The event will begin with the reading of a proclamation at 7 p.m. Attendees will be given purple flashlights to participate in the Circle of Hope just after sunset, commemorating the event and those it honors.
International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held annually at the end of August. The event aims to publicly challenge the stigma associated with substance use disorder and overdose. Everyone affected by drug overdose will be honored and acknowledged at the event Thursday, including survivors of overdose.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported that in 2023, 36 people died from drug overdose in Buchanan County.
Malita said that’s a 33% decrease from numbers in 2022.
”We attribute that to the easily, readily available, Narcan in our community,” Malita said.
Malita also said within the past few years, the annual overdose awareness event has gained more traction, describing that fact as a “double-edged sword”.
”That’s a good thing because we want the awareness to be out there,” said Malita. “But it’s also… it shows that there’s a real need for people to connect, who have lost loved ones.”
Attendees are asked to bring their own lawn chair to the event. A variety of items will be made available while supplies last, including purple flashlights, materials to create a remembrance rock, IOAD lapel pins, silicone bracelets and naloxone (Narcan).
A variety of information and resources on local treatment and recovery programs will also be on hand for those interested.
“The City of St. Joseph recognizes the depth of this issue and is making it a priority to work with community partners to create solutions and support initiatives to combat this epidemic,” a press release stated.
Those interested in attending or learning more information about the event are encouraged to call the St. Joseph Health Department at (816) 271-5327.
