DeKalb Community Rallying To Remember Those Lost To Addiction

DeKalb County residents who have lost someone they love to a drug overdose will be gathering together Thursday.

DeKalb Prevention Coalition Director Jennifer Matthews said candles have been replaced with purple glow sticks for the vigil event. Matthews said purple is the color signifying overdose awareness, uniting the community behind one cause.

“It’s to remember without stigma, those that we’ve lost or those that have died due to an overdose,” Matthews said. “This is just a way for families to acknowledge the grief of the family and the friends that have lost loved ones.”

Matthews said there will be speakers and music to help people leave the event with hope and inspiration. She said this is critical because of the pandemic’s effect.

“We’ve just recently got new data out from The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services,” Matthews said. “That the number of overdoses have increased significantly during this COVID time frame.”

Matthews said there will be a blessing banner, featuring the name and picture of those that attendees have lost. She said that people can submit for the banner at dekalbtnprevention@gmail.com.

However, she said there will be resources available on Thursday to try stopping the loss of a loved one.

“Offering free Narcan training to any community member or anyone that would like to join this event,” Matthews said. “They’ll have that training there. It just takes maybe five or ten minutes and you’ll leave the event with an overdose reversal Narcan kit at the event.”

Matthews said the community is invited to the DeKalb County Courthouse lawn for the vigil, starting at 6:30 PM. She said the region should be aware there will be overdose awareness events in other areas during the month of August. She said the best way to find your local event is by visiting overdoseday.com