International Overdose Awareness Day aims to provide resources and save lives

August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), and the city of Milwaukee is using the date to raise awareness with a series of events to remember those who have lost their lives to a drug overdose, supporting families, friends and survivors affected by the citywide crisis.

In collaboration with RISE Drug Free MKE, Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services and a coalition of community organizations, the Milwaukee Health Department detailed a series of activities in a press conference Thursday with Mayor Cavalier Johnson, County Executive David Crowley and a lot of cities. leaders.

At the center of Milwaukee’s IOAD programming is the Rhythm & Soles 5K Walk/Run, which will be held Saturday at Veterans Park. The walk/run is dedicated to friends and family of those lost to overdoses, as well as overdose survivors. It provides a space for participants to remember their loved ones, engage in healing activities, and reaffirm their commitment to preventing future overdoses.

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In addition to the run/walk, the event will include pain support sessions, free Narcan distribution and training, yoga and meditation, and a children’s program. A number of local resources will be available, provided by organizations including Celebrate Recovery, The Phoenix, Milwaukee Fire Department/MORI and Vivent Health.

To increase accessibility, shuttles will run between Veterans Park, Washington Park and Mitchell Park on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, participants can visit RISEdrugfreemke.org.

Across from Veterans Park, a memorial tree is currently set up in the Milwaukee City Hall Rotunda through September 5, where visitors can place ribbons bearing the names of loved ones lost to overdose. On Saturday, the Hoan Bridge will be lit with 668 purple lights to honor Milwaukee County’s overdose victims for 2023. More details about the bridge lighting can be found on the Light The Hoan website.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics, an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States in 2023, with 668 of those deaths occurring in Milwaukee County. While Saturday’s events can’t bring those victims back, they can provide resources, awareness and training to prevent that number from rising in the future.

For more information, please visit the City of Milwaukee Health Department website.