Overdose awareness event set

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Officially, drug overdoses have taken the lives of 13 people in Jackson County so far this year.

That’s 13 mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, children, brothers, sisters and other loved ones who have died from drug use.

On Thursday, a candlelight vigil and awareness walk are being conducted to remember all of those in the community lost to drug overdoses and to stand in support of those who currently are battling addiction.

The event is being organized by the Jackson County Drug-Free Council and the Jackson County Drug Awareness Action Team in observance of International Overdose Awareness Day.

“This issue continues to raise its ugly head in our communities,” said Nancy Franke, who is a part of the Drug Awareness Action Team. “In continued conversation, I learn there is a lot of misinformation being shared as well as a prevailing negative stigma existing still today.”

International Overdose Awareness Day provides an opportunity for the community to reflect on practical ways to prevent drug overdoses.

“Our discussions will only move forward if we have informed conversations,” Franke said. “I am hoping this event will bring about some of those shifts.”

The candlelight vigil will begin at 6 p.m. at One Chamber Square in downtown Seymour and be followed by the awareness walk, which will end at Harmony Park, next to The Brooklyn Pizza Co. on West Second Street.

“It gives our community a chance to support those who have lost a loved one to overdose and enable them to honor and remember that person’s life,” Franke said.

The walk is serving as a fundraiser for Overdose Lifeline, which provides free naloxone opioid reversal kits to emergency responders and the public.

“This is vital to not only set the seriousness of what is going on but a way for community members to come together to not only support the families who are impacted but join together to be a voice and express that we want to be a part of tackling this issue by working with others — entities from our hospital, health professionals, law enforcement, schools and county offices,” Franke said.

From 7 to 9 p.m., there will be an open microphone opportunity on the Harmony Park stage for people to share their stories about drug addiction and recovery along with music.

“We need to realize that drug overdose issues do not discriminate,” Franke said. “It is not at all localized to a specific economic or social group. It is not limited to a certain age group or profession. This is impacting everyone from all walks of life — teens to the elderly, the professional CEO to the local maintenance personnel. Brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, children all are impacted.”

There also will be several education stations set up offering information about programs, services and opportunities available in the community to help battle drug addiction. Free naloxone kits and training will be offered during the event, too.

A tree will be planted at Harmony Park in memory of loved ones lost to drug overdose.

“By bringing our communities together, we can become part of the change needed,” Franke said.

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An International Overdose Awareness Day event is set for Thursday in Seymour.

There will be a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. at One Chamber Square in downtown Seymour.

After the ceremony, there will be a drug awareness fundraising walk to Harmony Park. All money raised will go to Overdose Lifeline, an organization that provides free naloxone to emergency responders and the public.

From 7 to 9 p.m., there will be an open microphone at Harmony Park for people to share their stories about drug addiction and recovery along with music.

Education stations will be set up offering information about programs, services and opportunities available in the community to help battle drug addiction.

Free naloxone kits and training will be offered.

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