Addiction Problem In Putnam “Serious”; Awareness Event Thursday

Power of Putnam is hosting an Overdose Day awareness event Thursday at Dogwood Park.

Executive Director Bill Gibson said that the event is in order to raise awareness for those affected by overdoses. He said that the event is also an effort to bring the community together to fight against drug addiction. Gibson said that drug addiction and overdoses are a prevalent problem in Putnam County, that needs to be taken seriously.

“It’s extremely serious, the number of lives that we’re losing to overdoses, and the quality of life, and the lives that are being taken by addiction is way, way too high,” Gibson said. “One life is way too many but, we’re losing a lot of our people to this, and the quality of life is being taken from a lot more.”

Gibson said that the event will include overdose reversal training, which will prepare people with what to do if they witness an overdose. At the end of the training, citizens will receive free Narcan which they will be shown how to use.

“Every overdose is not a fatal overdose that there’s, for every fatal overdose there’s, somewhere between 20 and 30 non-fatal,” Gibson said. “And to encourage the whole community to just come together, to work together toward reducing this.”

The night will be hosted in front of the park pavilion, where the citizens can expect live music and an opportunity to share their testimony. At the end of the night, a vigil service utilizing purple glowstick, the color of overdose awareness, will be passed out.

Gibson said that it is important for both people who have and have not been affected by overdoses or drug addiction to attend the event. He said that it is important for those who haven’t been affected to show their support for others within their community. Gibson said that he hopes the community togetherness shown Thursday will give hope and peace to those having been affected by overdoses.

The event takes place from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.