Marking International Overdose Awareness Day in Sandwell
Sandwell Council
is hosting a remembrance event to mark International Overdose Awareness Day at the war memorial in Oldbury at 7.30pm on Saturday 31 August.International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message about the tragedy of drug overdose death and that drug overdose is preventable. This event has been organised by BRiS (Building Recovery in Sandwell) volunteers supported by Sandwell’s Public Health Team.
To remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind Sandwell Council House will also be lit-up purple from Friday 30 August to Monday 9 September. Councillor Jackie Taylor, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Wellbeing, said: "International Overdose Awareness Day is marked across the globe each year to highlight the tragedy of drug overdose death and that drug overdose is preventable.
“I invite members of the community to join us in Oldbury on Saturday 31 August at 7.30pm to pay tribute to those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind.” Sandwell has one of the lowest rates of drug overdose in the UK, in part thanks to the SCORE Team and Bus from Cranstoun that provides outreach harm reduction services and deliver training in the use of Naloxone which reverses an overdose. For more information and if you need support, please contact Cranstoun Sandwell on 0121 553 1333, who provide free and confidential advice and support to adults in Sandwell who would like to talk about alcohol or drugs.