Modified: August 22, 2018 9:19am
Latest News
PRESS RELEASE
From the Office of the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Gale R. Burstein
Date August 22, 2018
CONTACT: Mary C. St. Mary/Mary.StMary@Erie.Gov
Phone: 716.858.4941/ Mobile: 716.253.3925
International Overdose Awareness Day
Candlelight Memorial Remembering Those Lost to Opioid Addiction
ERIE COUNTY, NY—On Friday, August 31st at 6:30PM, the third Candlelight Memorial will be held at the LaSalle Park Pavilion Bandshell. The event, occurring on International Overdose Awareness Day (“IOAD”), is a time to remember loved ones, neighbors, colleagues and friends who succumbed to the disease of opioid addiction. The Candlelight Memorial is sponsored by the Erie County Opiate Epidemic Task Force’s Family and Consumer Support and Advocacy group. Their goal is to save lives while erasing the stigma of addiction, and to educate the community to treat addiction as a chronic disease, “substance abuse disorder”.
“This memorial provides the opportunity for participants to engage in a reading of names of those we have lost, share reflections, gather information on overdose prevention, addiction/recovery and family resources, and learn about advocacy efforts,” said Dr. Gale Burstein, Erie County Commissioner of Health.
IOAD is a global event held each August 31st to raise awareness of opioid overdoses and spread the message that the tragedy of overdose is preventable. For more information on IOAD, visit www.overdoseday.com.
New this year, we will recognize Buffalo Police Department officers who saved lives by administering naloxone to an individual overdosing on opioids.
All are welcome to attend; especially those touched personally by the loss of a loved one or are currently dealing with the active opiate addiction of a loved one.
# # #
For More Information:
OpiateTaskForce@Erie.gov or 716-858-8142