Narconon Suncoast drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Clearwater, Florida, celebrated the annual International Overdose Awareness Day, giving students and community members an opportunity to pay tribute to the lives lost in the midst of the drug crisis.
CLEARWATER, Fla., September 12, 2018 (Newswire.com) - Narconon Suncoast celebrated National Overdose Awareness Day with its students, family and community members to not only honor the memory of those who have lost their lives to the scourge of addiction but to also take a moment to educate each other on the growing drug crisis and spread the word of prevention and treatment to those still in need.
The evening event began with staff member Jason Good addressing the current crisis and this past year’s statistics. He discussed current substance abuse data and showed sobering photos of loved ones who had already lost their battles with addiction. Jason empowered the group to stand up and fight the epidemic. He encouraged the crowd to share their knowledge and success and to be a beacon of hope for those who feel as though there is no way out of the nightmare of drug abuse.
It's unfortunate that it's become necessary to have a day each year when we acknowledge the lives lost to addiction. Any addict who dies as a result of their drug abuse is unnecessary because addiction is completely preventable. No one has to die. No parent should ever know what it feels like to bury their child. We can beat this thing and it all starts with prevention. But at the point that a person is already addicted, I'm glad to know that the Narconon program is there to help.
Jason Good, Director of Community Services
After having to confront the expanse of the drug crisis and understanding its impacts on a national and local level, the attendees were invited to memorialize their lost loved ones on “Memory Stones” that were then placed in a tribute garden on the property at Narconon Suncoast.
Staff member Katie Lowry told the crowd, “Remember the ones who didn’t make it to treatment." In recalling the event, Katie said, “The students on the program realized very quickly that each of them has the power to succeed in their treatment program and never have to become a statistic.” Jason Good, community services director, said, "It's unfortunate that it became necessary to have a day each year when we acknowledge the lives lost to addiction. Any addict who dies as a result of their drug abuse is unnecessary because addiction is completely preventable. No one has to die. No parent should ever know what it feels like to bury their child. We can beat this thing and it all starts with prevention. But at the point that a person is already addicted, I'm glad to know that the Narconon program is there to help."
Narconon salutes all the recovery workers, first responders and families who are fighting the battles of addiction each day in their communities. There is a growing understanding that the syndemic can only be cured through prevention and education, and giving the real data about drugs is key to keeping kids from using in the first place. Narconon Suncoast delivers its powerful SAMHSA-approved NREPP prevention curriculum in schools, community centers and churches all around the state. For more information about prevention or long-term drug-free rehabilitation services, please call (727) 304-4176 or visit www.narconon-suncoast.org.
Source: Narconon Suncoast
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