Lacey proclaims August 31 as Overdose Awareness Day

‘Treat drug-related harm as a public health issue’

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Joining the state’s efforts to break the stigma on substance overdose, the Lacey City Council proclaimed August 31 as Overdose Awareness Day.

Lacey Mayor Andy Ryder urged the public to utilize state-wide resources to seek help for cases of overdose during the city council meeting on Thursday, August 18.

“We need to continue to treat drug-related harm as a public health issue and invest in best practices that save lives and build communities,” the proclamation read.

The council said it recognizes that overdose deaths occur in all communities, adding that Lacey stands beside those “who have lost loved ones to an overdose and who have a substance use disorder and are diligently working toward recovery.”

Katie Strozyk, Thurston County Opioid Response coordinator, joined the council meeting on August 18 for the said proclamation. “Overdose deaths are preventable, and one of the first steps we can take is talking about overdose stats, how to prevent them, how to respond to them,” said Strozyk.

Event and resources

Strozyk invited community members to join the Thurston County Overdose Awareness Day on August 31 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Heritage Park in downtown Olympia. She said 20 agencies would offer programs and services at the event.

The event will also offer training in administering Naloxone, a medication for opioid overdose that the Food and Drug Administration approves, said Strozyk.

“We really want to work on breaking the stigma around folks who use substances,” she said,

For a 24-hour help desk, the public may contact the Washington Recovery Helpline at 1-866-789-1511. For more information on substance overdose, visit www.stopoverdose.org.

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