International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) will be Saturday, Aug. 31, but activities will take place all over the world this week to raise awareness about overdose and prevention.
An event will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29 at Simmons Park, 1201 E. Indian Trail Road, in Aurora. This event, sponsored by Breaking Free and Chris Walk Against Substance Abuse, will feature Kane County sheriff, Ron Hain and Kane County coroner, Rob Russell, along with remarks by Aurora deputy mayor, Chuck Nelson, and Breaking Free clinical director, Herb Stricklin. It will feature a candlelight vigil, so please bring a picture of your deceased loved one to share.
According to the IOAD website, “Our message is simple – the tragedy of overdose death is preventable and more must be done to save lives. 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. North America continues to experience the highest drug-related mortality rate in the world, which accounts for one-in-four drug-related deaths globally.”
For more information call, Vicki Foley with Chris Walk at 630-802-1868.
—Anita Lewis, Board member of Chris Walk Against Substance Abuse