Communities hold memorials for International Overdose Awareness Day

Communities in Fall River and Chester County are preparing to observe International Overdose Awareness Day through public memorials and resource distribution.

In Fall River, Recover Fall River will host an event at The Meadows Heritage State Park on August 28. The program includes a vigil with a dove release, a memorial video featuring local lives lost, and a performance by recording artist Skyler Ray. Resources such as Narcan will be available to attendees to assist in overdose reversal.

In Chester County, Pennsylvania, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Services will hold the “Night of Light” at the Historic Courthouse. The event features a luminary ceremony and the display of 57 flags to honor those lost to accidental overdoses in the previous year. Officials noted that overdose fatalities in the county have declined by 20% over the last four years, a trend attributed to multi-departmental cooperation and community partnerships.