Lacey City Council proclaims Aug. 31 as Overdose Awareness Day  

As drug prevention and recovery efforts continue in Thurston County, the City of Lacey will mark Aug. 31 as Overdose Awareness Day and recognize people affected by substance use. 

The observance is aimed at people who have lost loved ones to an overdose, as well as people with substance use disorder who are working toward recovery.

The Lacey City Council issued a proclamation for the day at a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 18.  

Overdose deaths can involve alcohol, over-the-counter medications, stimulants, opioids and other substances. Officials consider the opioid epidemic and other overdoses a public health threat in Lacey. 

Lacey also participates in the One Washington Memorandum of Understanding, providing access to funds for local opioid response efforts. The state of Washington has a State Opioid Response Plan in place.

Katie Strozyk, Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Opioid and Overdose Response Program Manager, said Lacey has worked with the Thurston County Opioid Abatement Council to get settlement dollars into community contracts. 

"We've been able to make great progress on getting contracts out into the community and getting those dollars out to actually help people within our community who are experiencing substance use disorder," Strozyk said. 

Strozyk said the settlement effort has required cooperation from local jurisdictions. Thurston County has also added several treatment centers and peer services during the past five to six years, she said. 

Franklin Street Harm Reduction provides another resource in downtown Olympia, and a treatment center from the Nisqually Tribe is expected to open soon. 

Strozyk, who said she has lost friends to fatal overdoses and responded to overdose incidents herself, said the annual observance also recognizes survivors and people who have responded to overdoses. 

An Overdose Awareness Day event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 2 at Franklin Street Harm Reduction. Community partners will share resources, offer art projects and provide opportunities to remember people who died from overdoses. 

Council member Lenny Greenstein credited Strozyk for her work on the Opioid Abatement Council, saying her leadership was “absolutely critical” to completing the effort. 

The Washington Recovery Help Line is available at 1-866-789-1511 for people seeking 24-hour information and help related to substance use disorder.