MONTICELLO- The Third annual International Overdose Awareness Day Vigil will be held on August 31, 2023, beginning at 7:00 p.m. on the lawn of the Sullivan County Courthouse located at 414 Broadway in Monticello.
International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remembering without stigma those who have died from overdose, and acknowledging the grief of the family and friends left behind.
According to the New York State Department of Health, Sullivan County holds the highest rate of overdose, per capita in New York State; and was also recently federally-designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
“Overdose Awareness Day is a way for our entire community to come together and understand that no one group or organization can fix this issue. Illegal drug use impacts the very soul of our community. We must support one another; despite our differences. We are stronger together” said Wendy Brown, former Coordinator of the Sullivan County Drug Task Force.
Hear from state and local leaders about efforts to battle the opioid crisis in Sullivan County. Open your hearts as families share their stories of loved ones who lost their battle with substance use. Remember those who have passed and celebrate those in recovery. Meet organizations and learn about resources created to face this crisis head on. Participate in a candlelight vigil as the sun sets.
The event will be complemented by local first responders, the Sullivan County Choir, an interpretive dance performance and bag pipers. All of this will set against the backdrop of the Sullivan County Courthouse lit purple to symbolize overdose awareness.
“This evening serves as a platform for so many things. Each loss to overdose was someone’s someone; a brother, a child, a parent or best friend,” said Lindsay Wheat, Outreach Coordinator for Sullivan 180. “We always knew this was an important evening, but after the first year, we realized it was necessary. The only way to end this, is to do it together.”
This event is brought to you by a community of organizations working together to end the opioid epidemic in Sullivan County.
