In honor of International Overdose Awareness Day, two ceremonies were held on Monday night dedicated to the memory of those already lost to drugs and to reaching out to those who know the struggle of addiction, wherever they may be on their path.
The Knox Substance Abuse Action Team (KSAAT) welcomed attendees to a gathering at 501 S. Main St. in Mount Vernon, where they listened to survivors, addicts and others about their experience with drug overdoses.
A few blocks away at Good Stories, 300 N. Main St., another gathering saw attendees release lit lanterns in honor of those lost to drug overdoses.
The KSAAT provided attendees at the ceremony near the downtown bridge with a flier titled "Opioid Overdose. Know What to Do," which recommended carrying Narcan, the overdose equivalent to being trained in CPR. It recommended reaching out to Project Dawn or Harm Reduction Ohio to get a free dose of Narcan.
The flier also listed overdose symptoms as blue/gray skin, vomiting, choking sounds, limp body, loss of consciousness, unresponsive to stimulus, awake but unable to speak, and shallow breathing -- and urged a call to 911 immediately before trying anything else.
The thematic message carried through the stories on posters put up in the grassy area between the CA&C Depot, the bike path and the river was that an overdose patient could be your mother, father, brother, sister, friend, child. The theme was chosen in hopes of overcoming the cultural stigma attached to substance abuse and the resulting danger it carries that may prevent someone who is struggling to reach out to ask for help for fear of harsh judgment and shame.
A number of the attendees wore purple tie-died shirts inviting others to ask them about their recovery.
Kim Novak shared the story of her daughter, Seneca, who was in recovery but made one bad decision. Seneca died of a fentanyl overdose. Kim shared there are many "what-ifs," including what if she had access to Narcan that day -- would she still be alive?
Her mother said Seneca could always point out the positives and would say that no one chooses to struggle with addiction.
Dotti Riggs shared the story of her daughter, Darby, whom she lost to an overdose. She also shared many words of love she wishes she could send to her daughter.
Darby was a "happy, friendly person," who saved at least one life by being there for that person when they asked -- when they were afraid they were in recovery and afraid that they were going to start using again, her mother said.
Many more names were given to the dead. Brothers. Sisters. Children. Friends.
Kathy Wantland with the Hospice of North Central Ohio and Adonyah Whipple with Knox Community Hospital asked anyone who named a loved one and all those who had a name they didn't share to consider joining the Grievers of Overdose group therapy for the sense of community with others who understand the grief they're going through. Riggs attested the group could be a life-changer.
Chaplain Jerry from the Knox County Sheriff's Department pointed out that no one else knows the path you're on or knows the pain in your heart. He advocated helping each other and remembering the good -- a theme repeated in an earlier reading, which said "the pain will last forever / but so will the blessings."
The trestle and bridge were lit up purple in honor of those lost to overdose.
Novak left attendees with the message to "be kind, be loving, and, for those in recovery, stick with it."
.webp)
.webp)
