The Cumberland Prevention Coalition hopes to shed light on the overdose issue Tuesday through a community awareness event.
Prevention Coordinator Natalie Hoskins said more awareness may help prevent future overdoses and prevent the deaths. Hoskins said the community should know that overdose is an issue in Cumberland County.
“If we can bring it out and remove the stigma, remove the shame of even the word ‘overdose’, that this will help us to decrease the numbers of overdoses,” Hoskins said. “And to have it come out in the open so that we can help people that are experiencing this.”
Hoskins said families navigating overdose and overdose survivors alike may struggle to move forward.
“Some of the things they may have to go though is healing their lives after you know, this type of health crisis,” Hoskins said. “And as well, healing their walk in life sometimes if they are misusing substances. And obviously, trying very hard to stay in recovery so that they can resume their lives as normal as they can after something so tragic as an overdose.”
Hoskins said the event’s focus is education. She said there will be multiple speakers at the event. Hoskins said one of the speakers will be someone who works with people recovering from overdoses.
“There’s also going to be a person that is going to speak on their perspective on surviving an overdose and the things that happened during that experience,” Hoskins said. “And how they have recovered through that experience, and how it has impacted their relationships and the different things in their lives that may be affected by them overdosing.”
Though the topics may be sensitive in nature, Hoskins said she is excited for people to share their stories. She is also exited about how different perspectives may impact attendees.
Hoskins said the event will have a candlelight walk and NARCAN training for attendees. Narcan is a nasal inhalant medication to meant to reverse the effects of an overdose while someone is overdosing.
The Community Overdose Awareness Event will be held Tuesday from 6:30pm to 8pm at the Crossville Downtown Amphitheater.
Hoskins said people who are stuck in addiction can get out by seeking recovery options. Though the Coalition is focused on prevention, Hoskins said they are aware of resources for those who need help.
