The Preble County Mental Health and Recovery Board hosted a somber ceremony to bring awareness and remember those lost to overdose on Overdose Awareness Day, Saturday, Aug. 31. Preble County Mental Health and Recovery Board Executive Director Amy Raynes welcomed those in attendance at the evening event held around the special “Remembrance Tree” at Fort St. Clair Park.
Eddie Mowen Jr. | The Register-Herald
EATON – The Preble County Mental Health and Recovery Board hosted a somber ceremony to bring awareness and remember those lost to overdose on Overdose Awareness Day, Saturday, Aug. 31.
Preble County Mental Health and Recovery Board Executive Director Amy Raynes welcomed those in attendance at the evening event held around the special “Remembrance Tree” at Fort St. Clair Park.
Raynes acknowledged the support of elected officials, community providers, and organizers in her office. The event included a candlelight service around the planted at the Fort in 2018 to honor those lost to overdose, and the opportunity for those in attendance to hang pictures of their loved ones on the tree.
“This tree is special, also because it reminds us that we can all grow in knowledge around substance use. For instance, substance use disorders are a treatable health condition. Individuals with a substance use disorder are not their problem or illness, and stigma brings shame and fear, which can lead to individuals not seeking the treatment they need. Remember, every individual we have lost to this disease is someone’s child, parent, sibling, spouse, friend — and they are missing their people.
“Amy does a great job with our Mental Health and Recovery Board. We’re very thankful — she kind of gives herself absolutely zero credit, but I’m just going to give her a lot of credit here. She’s done a fantastic job, and she continues to serve our county well,” Commissioner Adam Craft said.
“What a somber evening,” he told those in attendance. I look at all these pictures up here, and my heart goes out to the families that are here and the families that maybe aren’t in attendance this evening, that person was someone to you. And I just want to say, how sorry we all are, and how much this community wants to come alongside and support your family and support those that are still struggling, so that we don’t have any more pictures like this to add to this display here.”
Craft went on to read a proclamation from Preble County Commissioners which proclaimed Aug. 31 as Overdose Awareness Day in Preble County, emphasizing the need to reduce stigma and increase awareness.
Zac Shisler, a recovering addict, shared his personal loss and the importance of personal responsibility in recovery. “I have personal experience with addiction, with overdose and losing somebody to an overdose, my brother, Nathaniel. We lost him on Dec. 27 to an overdose. Nathaniel was a father. He was a brother. He was a son, a nephew, an uncle, and he will be missed dearly,” he shared.
Shisler continued, “My brother, he also suffered with his mental health. And mental health and addiction go hand in hand. I know a lot of drug addicts that suffer with mental health due to the drug addiction. And I know a lot of people with mental health issues, they use drugs and alcohol to cope. You know, with their mental health. If you’re here tonight, you’re struggling. There’s a lot of resources in this community, a lot of good resources. I was in and out of rehab a lot through my addiction. And I thought that I would come out of a rehab — you know, I’ve been to so many — and I would do well for a little bit, and then I would relapse, and I would think to myself, well, it’s rehab. It didn’t work, you know? And I realized that it’s not the rehab’s responsibility to keep me sober or get me sober. I have to do that myself. So, I always remind myself, that it’s my responsibility. It’s not the rehab’s. They give us the tools and the resources that we need in order to obtain our sobriety, but it’s our job in order to keep our sobriety.”
The ceremony concluded with a moment of silence led by Pastor Aaron Holman.
Established in 2021, Ohio Overdose Awareness Day aims to raise public awareness about substance use disorder and overdose risks, while also remembering the lives lost to drug addiction.
“Overdose Awareness Day reminds us that we are all connected in the fight against addiction. It’s a time to remember those we’ve lost and to reflect on the resilience of those who are in recovery. Together, we can continue to build a future filled with hope and possibility for every Ohioan affected by substance use disorder,” said Governor Mike DeWine in a press release last week. “Through awareness and support, we can turn tragedy into action and strengthen our communities.”
The annual observance also helps usher in September as Recovery Month.
“Overdose Awareness Day is an opportunity to honor the lives lost to overdose and emphasize the importance of raising awareness about the risks associated with substance use, while also reducing the stigma around addiction,” said Aimee Shadwick, director of Governor DeWine’s RecoveryOhio initiative. “This day is about bringing our communities together to support those struggling with addiction and to strengthen our efforts in education, prevention, and recovery.”
From 2019 to 2023, the number of opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in Ohio has surged from 35 to 125, according to state officials. Over the same span, the number of patients served by these OTPs increased from 21,365 to 38,132.
As part of this year’s observance, state officials are also promoting Naloxone.Ohio.gov, an online resource that provides Ohioans with a simplified process for obtaining free naloxone, a life-saving drug used to reverse an opioid overdose. The website makes requesting naloxone as seamless as possible for all Ohioans, whether they are a first responder, community member, or distribution site, and enhances access to prevention and treatment information.
ODH manages the Project DAWN program, which continues to provide increasing numbers of naloxone kits. In 2014, the program distributed 2,894 kits, which resulted in 190 known overdose reversals. In 2023, the number of kits distributed grew to 291,722, and the known overdose reversals to 20,368.
“Many of these tragic deaths are preventable, which is why our department has been focused on getting increasing numbers of naloxone kits into the hands of Ohioans,” said Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA.
In recognition of Overdose Awareness Day, state flags displayed at all state buildings and public institutions were flown at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Aug. 31.
Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.
