Highland County commissioners recognize Overdose Awareness Day; local event planned for Aug. 29

Highland County commissioners David Daniels, Brad Roades and Terry Britton proclaimed Aug. 31 as Overdose Awareness Day, as part of both statewide and local recognition efforts, during their Wednesday, Aug. 7 meeting.

Accepting the proclamation on behalf of the Highland County Probation Office were Treatment Navigator Kim Davis, Officer Jon Parr and Director of Programming & Clinical Services and Drug Court Coordinator Tonya Sturgill. The Probation Office representatives are active in Highland County’s New Way to Recovery Drug Court as well as Hope for Highland County and the Highland County Drug Abuse Prevention Coalition. Also present was Highland County Sheriff Randy Sanders, a longtime drug investigator.

According to the State of Ohio, “With a goal of raising awareness, supporting communities in the fight against drug addiction, and remembering loved ones lost to the epidemic, the state will observe ‘Ohio Overdose Awareness Day’ on Aug. 31. The observance was officially sanctioned on June 8, 2021, when Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 30, sponsored by Sen. Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls), into law.”

Davis told commissioners that the local annual day of remembrance and awareness for drug overdose victims will be observed Aug. 29 from 6-8 p.m. outside the Highland County Courthouse. The event is open to the community, with the families of overdose victims encouraged to attend.

“We'll have several resources of tables set up, so if there's any other facility, whether it's in treatment or maybe a community organization that would like to come set up at the event, they're more than welcome to,” Davis said. “We’ll have three or four speakers, and then we'll do like a memorial or a ceremony in remembrance of those who have lost their lives from an overdose.

“Each year, we hope that that number decreases, and periodically, we see that number go down a little bit, and then a few months later, unfortunately, it spikes back up again. Our community is affected by that. I've lost several that I know personally just this past year from a drug-related overdose. One in particular, she left five kids, so it impacts the community.”

Daniels asked Davis about local resources for those in the community who suspect their loved ones are abusing drugs or at risk.

“Maybe even starting with the local PD [police department] or the sheriff's office or calling us at probation,” Davis said. “We are kind of those frontline folks coming in contact with those who are in active drug addiction, but even for the public, just looking and knowing what resources are out there as well. We have several treatment facilities in the county, so those are good first contacts as well, working on getting someone in and getting them assessment and getting them the treatment that they need.

“A lot of families don't know who to call, and most of the time that interaction with law enforcement, sometimes that even gets that ball rolling for somebody to get in treatment or get the help that they need. There's a lot of families who are unaware.”

If you are struggling with addiction and need help, you can visit https://findtreatment.gov or https://pvadamh.org/contract-providers/ to find mental and substance use disorder help near you. If you are feeling suicidal, please call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

After hearing from the group, Daniels read the proclamation acknowledging Aug. 31 as Ohio Overdose Awareness Day and commissioners’ desire to “raise awareness and support the community in the fight against drug addiction and remembering loved ones lost to this epidemic.”

For more from Wednesday's meeting, go to: https://highlandcountypress.com/news/commissioners-amend-sewer-use-rule….

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