Overdose Awareness Day observed

TIFFIN --- At the observation of International Overdose Awareness late Thursday afternoon, HOPE in Fostoria handed out Deterra Safe Disposal bags for unused prescriptions, community resource information, hygiene kits and Narcan. The organization hosted an event both in Fostoria from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Fostoria Municipal Building and in Tiffin from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Joint Justice Center. During both events, community members were invited to use chalk to draw pictures or affirmations in memory of those who were lost and to bring awareness. To remember those lost and to help raise awareness, the city of Tiffin lit the copula of the courthouse purple, the color of overdose awareness. Tiffin mayor Dawn Iannantuono also read a proclamation in honor of the day. "...the City of Tiffin does affirm and acknowledge the harm and hardship caused by drug overdose," the proclamation read. "and...we recognize the purpose of International Overdose Awareness Day as remembering loved ones lost to overdose and ending the stigma of drug-related deaths. "...we resolve to play our part in reducing the toll of overdoses in our community, which claimed the lives of nearly 5,000 souls in the state of Ohio, 18 of whom were from Seneca County in 2022, together with countless more affected forever," the proclamation continued. "...we affirm that the people affected by overdose are our sons and daughters, our mothers and fathers, our brothers and sisters and deserving of our love, compassion and support." Iannantuono declared Aug. 31, 2023, as Overdose Awareness Day in the city of Tiffin. OhioCAN (Change Addiction Now) is to host a candlelight vigil on the Courthouse Lawn in Tiffin from 6–7:30 p.m. today. It will have resource tables as well as a guest speaker who lost a loved one from substance use disorder.