International Overdose Awareness Day 2018
Second Year Running
August was Opioid Awareness month and its a very hard thing to see people and families devastated by a chemical that is no respecter of a person’s ethnicity, socioeconomic status, family background, etc.
Pitt County hosted it’s 2nd Annual IOAD (International Overdose Awareness Day) at Boyd Lee Park. Elaine Wainright who lost her son 2 years ago to an overdose orchestrated the entire event which promoted some 20 different vendor resources in and around the community. Most of the ones we spoke to had no idea we existed. It just goes to show you that we need more events like this so that others are aware of what’s available for help. Dr. Greg Murphy from district 9, Representative Craig Horn from district 68 and Captain Tony Williams from Pitt Co Sheriff’s Office were also guest speakers that night. A memorial wall with the pictures of those who were lost to addiction was also on display.
Reach Recovery was fortunate enough to be this year’s donor organization for the second year running. With donations through food, tee shirts and promotional items we received almost $700 to go towards helping adults and families battle this horrible problem.
A row of vendors line the grassy field at Boyd Lee Park in Greenville, NC
It is Real!
At the beginning of August we met with a young man (only 19) who had been doing well after getting help, but started to struggle and revert back to his old lifestyle habits.
His mom reach out and asked if we would contact him. We spoke with him about the seriousness of addiction and that it’s a life and death matter–not something to be toyed with. We said what we could to encourage him and try to get him back on the right path.
Unfortunately, his mother called us two days laters with the horrible news that he has passed. It was a shock, but also a grim reminder that chemical addiction runs rampant in our society and it destroys without prejudice. He was one of three young adults under 26 years old who died in August from an apparent chemical overdose.
We cannot do this alone and we need members and organizations throughout the community and state legislators to help put an end to the opioid epidemic. If we unite and stand together on a common goal, we can make a difference! Please join us in this fight.
Another group of vendors fill out the grassy field at Boyd Lee Park in Greenville, NC
Final Note
In addition to the money raised at the IOAD event, Jordan Santos (whom we had not previously met), decided to create a birthday fundraiser in honor of her lost friends to overdose on Facebook. She chose Reach Recovery to to be the recipient. We had no idea that it would be so successful. She first set the goal to $500, it was met. Then to $1,000…$1,200…$1,500 and finally it capped out at $2,100. This was all raised in two-weeks from mostly strangers. It was a prayer answered as we have a decrease in funds over the years, but God provided through perfect strangers.
Thank you Jordan and everyone who contributed to our organization and ultimately into the lives of those who are battling chemical addiction and their loved ones.
