FLEMING ISLAND – International Overdose Awareness Day was commemorated on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

The campaign was created to raise awareness of overdose as a public health crisis, remind us of the impact of the opioid epidemic in our communities, and help reduce the stigma attached to the opioid epidemic. It is also a day of remembrance for those who have lost their lives to overdose and an acknowledgment of grief for the family and friends who have been left behind.

The Florida Department of Health in Clay County participated in the “Remembering Without Stigma” event in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day at the New Season Treatment Center at 1241 Blanding Blvd., Suite 5, in Orange Park. The event, hosted by the Clay County Opioid Taskforce, remembered those that have lost their lives to substance use, acknowledged those who are struggling with addiction and supported those that are in recovery.

Battalion Chief Glenn East of Clay County Fire Rescue was the keynote speaker and he shared information on the Community Paramedicine Program. There also was a special message: “A Story of Struggle and Hope from a Peer Specialist in Recovery,” given by a peer specialist from Clay Behavioral Health Center.

Attendees received Narcan and Deterra and were taught how to properly use each product. Resources Educational materials were deployed by the Florida Department of Health and the Florida Department of Children and Families to ensure Floridians are aware of the signs of overdose and how to respond. These print and digital materials can be found here. A public health and safety alert was deployed by the Florida Department of Health on July 8 to ensure Floridians remain vigilant of the signs of overdose. For questions regarding potential overdoses and other drug-related exposures, Florida’s Poison Control Centers are a valuable resource to individuals throughout Florida, including emergency personnel. Poison Control Centers are staffed by health care professionals that are specifically trained to assist in treating drug overdoses or assessing patients exposed to drugs of abuse. Medical toxicologists are available 24/7 for physician consultations.

HEROS (Helping Emergency Responders Obtain Support) is a Florida Department of Health program that provides free naloxone to emergency response agencies. Since the inception of the program in 2018, more than 455,000 doses have been distributed to emergency response agencies in Florida through HEROS. All first responders in Florida are eligible to request free naloxone through this program.

For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.