{"id":46574,"date":"2020-08-25T09:28:02","date_gmt":"2020-08-25T13:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=46574"},"modified":"2020-08-25T09:28:09","modified_gmt":"2020-08-25T13:28:09","slug":"chesco-to-participate-in-international-overdose-awareness-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=46574","title":{"rendered":"Chesco to participate in ‘International Overdose Awareness Day’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Last year, 110 pinwheels were displayed at the Chester County Government Services Center on International Overdose Awareness Day \u2013 representing the 110 lives lost in 2018 to accidental drug overdose. This year\u2019s display of pinwheels will represent an additional 104 lives lost to accidental drug overdose in 2019.<\/p><\/div>\n

WEST CHESTER \u2014 As part of Chester County\u2019s commitment to tackle the opioid and heroin epidemic, the County\u2019s Department of Drug & Alcohol Services announced the County\u2019s participation in \u201cInternational Overdose Awareness Day\u201d on Monday, August 31.\u00a0 On this day, the County will be joining communities around the world in encouraging residents, businesses and organizations to raise awareness of overdose, reduce the stigma surrounding overdoses and drug related deaths, remember the lives lost to overdose and acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends who have lost a loved one.<\/p>\n

To mark the occasion, 104 pinwheels will be displayed in front of the Chester County Justice Center on Market Street in West Chester and the West Chester Borough Building on Gay Street in West Chester, representing the 104 lives lost to accidental overdose in Chester County in 2019.\u00a0 In addition, citizens are invited to participate in a social media campaign in which a pinwheel graphic is shared to remember loved ones and spread awareness on that day.<\/p>\n

\u201cAgain this year, we join communities across the country to remember the lives lost to, and those still battling substance use disorders,\u201d said Vince Brown, Executive Director of the Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough we saw a slight decline in accidental overdoses here in the county last year, substance use disorders are still extremely prevalent,\u201d he added. \u201cWe encourage residents, businesses and community groups to join us in raising awareness of substance use disorders, reducing the stigma, and acknowledge the lives we have lost to accidental overdose.\u201d<\/p>\n

In years past, \u201cin-person\u201d events have been held on August 31st <\/sup>in honor of \u201cInternational Overdose Awareness Day\u201d.\u00a0 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chester County Department of Drug & Alcohol Services encourages all partners and county residents to participate in a virtual social media campaign:<\/p>\n