How to resolve AdBlock issue? SARATOGA SPRINGS – On Thursday, Aug. 31, members of the community are invited to join local drug-abuse prevention groups for International Overdose Awareness Day, to acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends who have lost a loved one.
The groups Recovery Advocacy in Saratoga (RAIS), Healing Springs Recovery Community Center and The Prevention Council have scheduled two separate events. At 6 p.m. there will be a free Narcan training at the Saratoga Springs Public Library. At 7 p.m. there will be a candlelight vigil at The Spirit of Life fountain in Congress Park.
“International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held each year on August 31, when thousands of people worldwide will stand alongside the friends and families of fatal overdose victims to reflect on those who have been lost,” explains Brian Farr, president of RAIS. “The event is organized on the understanding that no one need feel shame or disgrace over a drug overdose. It allows all who have been affected by overdose a chance to publicly mourn and help the wider community understand that no one is immune to the tragedy of overdose.”
At the vigil, family and friends who have lost loved ones to overdose can participate in lighting a candle in remembrance. Participants are encouraged to bring a photo or token of their loved one to place on a memory board. All attendees will have an opportunity, should they choose, to share the name aloud of a loved one they would like to have remembered.
At the conclusion of the vigil, there will be light refreshments and resources available for local addiction recovery services. For more information, call the Prevention Council at 518-581-1230 or visit the website www.PreventionCouncil.org.
