Opioid overdose response kits will be available

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, and local recovery organization Mosaic Place is hoping to give the community a chance to come together and remember those who have been lost due to drug addition, and ensure that the losses don’t keep adding up with an opportunity to learn how to save those who are in serious threat of losing their life.

Mosaic Place is hosting a Candlelight Vigil and will have opioid overdose response kits available to distribute throughout the community in an effort to not just reduce the number of lives that are being lost because of narcotics overdoses, but end them as a whole. The event is set to start at 8 p.m., and is free for all to come and take part.

“We will stand together to honor the friends, family and community members who died from overdose, and acknowledge the grief of families and friends. The event will also raises awareness about overdose prevention. Together, we can end overdose stigma,” Lydia Goodson, the Program Manager for Mosaic Place said.

She added that the community has a lot of work to do, but first have to look inward at their attitudes about drug addiction and the need to save lives.

“The stigma that surrounds substance use disorder in our community greatly increases the risk of overdose,” she said. “We need to stand together to fight this. This is a community call to help everyone. Substance use disorder doesn’t discriminate.”

Those who want to take part can join in at Mosaic Place in Cedartown at 321 West Ave., Cedartown (in the back of the building.)

The organization is also set to launch a weekslong reminder of the importance of their work during National Recovery Month in September. Tonight’s event comes off of a Community Listening Session held on Tuesday.

Several upcoming events are set to be announced in the next few days.

Check back for more coverage from the Candlelight Vigil on Thursday.