Olympia proclaims August 31 Overdose Awareness Day

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About 1700 opioid-related deaths were recorded in Washington State last year, according to Olympia Mayor Cheryl Selby, who signed a proclamation designating Wednesday, August 31, 2022 as Overdose Awareness Day in the city.

The proclamation, signed on Tuesday, August. 9, stated that overdose deaths are preventable and drug-related harm is a public health issue.

In proclaiming Overdose Awareness Day, the Olympia City Council urged the community to join in "raising awareness of drug overdose morbidity and mortality by reducing stigma through education, prevention, treatment and recovery support for substance use disorder."

Thurston County Opioid Response coordinator Katie Strozyk invited community members to participate in overdose prevention and response training offered by Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department’s Syringe Services Program.

She said the training would also cover administering Food and Drug Administration or FDA-approved Naloxone, a medication designed to reverse opioid overdose.

The training is at 1000 Cherry Street and held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, between noon and 5 p.m.

She added that Public Health also welcomes the participation of an organization or agency.

"You don't have to be a formal organization or have a 501(c)(3). The Public Health is happy to train your organization and provide you with Naloxone kits as well," Strozyk said.

Strozyk urged community members to visit Overdose Awareness Day displays at Heritage Park in downtown Olympia on August 31 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

She said there would be over 20 community organizations with different resources present at the events.

"We are using this [event] as a way to break down the stigma of drug use, show compassion as a community, and remember folks who have been lost to overdose," she added.

Mayor Pro Tem Clark Gilman said he felt honored to read the proclamation as he shared that he lost his nephew to a fentanyl overdose. He added his nephew was an opioid user struggling with substance abuse. "I want to say, behind those 1,700 deaths were people who love them."

Community members whose lives have been impacted by substance use disorder may call the Washington Recovery Helpline at 1-866-789-1511. It offers anonymous, confidential 24-hour help for Washington State residents.

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