08/31/2025
Today is overdose awareness day. Let's take some time to remember the 133 people we have lost in Summit County, and the 80,391 people we have lost nationally in 2024. There is a great stigma surrounding substance use in general, but especially in relation to those who overdose. International Overdose Awareness Day is annual campaign that aims to raise awareness of overdose, as well as remember those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of their families and friends.
Every single person lost is someone's mother, father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle. Their lives matter. Substance use is not a choice; it is a chronic illness that should be treated as such. One life lost is to many. Overdose is not an individual issue, it is a family issue, a community issue that is fracturing the foundation of our society. The lives impacted by this epidemic are not singular, they bridge families, communities, schools, religions, states. Substance use does not discriminate.
But in a time when people are searching for connection and safety, overdose also reminds us that our lives are deeply intertwined.
Our therapists are here for you! You are not alone.
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