NEWS

August 11, 2024 | Link to original posted by The Sentinel-Record

Each year on Aug. 31, people around the world whose lives have been affected by drug-related deaths come together to observe International Overdose Awareness Day. The day serves not only to remember the lost, but also to acknowledge the ongoing grief and healing of people who have lost loved ones to this tragic, preventable scourge.

I speak with mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and other relatives who know firsthand the deep and lasting damage substance use disorder and fentanyl poisoning can have on the lives of Arkansans. It’s why we fight every day to support those who’ve been irreparably changed by these epidemics.

“Together We Can,” the theme for International Overdose Awareness Day 2024, is an idea that resonates. It’s only three words, but it says so much about the importance of unity and community in overcoming this crisis.

Many may not realize this, but drugs don’t discriminate by age, income, class, race or politics. They’re an equal-opportunity destroyer, affecting people from all walks of life. By uniting our voices and efforts, we can create a more supportive, compassionate path for people struggling with substance use disorder and those who have lost a loved one to its grip.

This must be done together. Right now, groups across Arkansas are taking action in that fight daily, including the Arkansas Opioid Recovery Partnership, which launched the ReviveAR app in app stores earlier this year. This free, easy-to-use app provides a hub of resources, including step-by-step naloxone instructions and help finding local recovery and treatment options, as well as resources for families affected.

Even with the best lifesaving tools, we still need to erase the stigma between substance use disorder and support. It’s why Hope Movement Coalition is hosting its fifth-annual “Bridge the Gap” event on Aug. 31 in North Little Rock’s Riverfront Park. This event is an opportunity to come together, yet again, to remember those we’ve lost, offer resources and spread the word about the challenges faced by families impacted by drug misuse.

International Overdose Awareness Day is a time to reflect and remember, but it’s also a chance to recommit ourselves to building a future free from overdose, fentanyl poisoning and drug misuse. Unity is required.

By joining us at the “Bridge the Gap” event or simply sharing information about resources like ReviveAR, any one of us can make a difference. Every hand we hold and every family we help brings us closer to a world where no one has to grapple with losing a loved one to substance use disorder or fentanyl poisoning.

Together, we can bridge the gap between stigma and understanding.

Staci James is executive director of Hope Movement Coalition, an organization that provides comfort and resources for those who have experienced a loss due to Substance Use Disorder or fentanyl poisoning. Since losing her 22-year-old son to an overdose in 2019, James has dedicated herself to educating communities across the state about the dangers of SUD, fentanyl and opioid misuse.