August 27, 2024
COLUMBUS, Ohio – August 31 marks a poignant event recognized annually as International Overdose Awareness Day. It is a day to remember individuals within our communities affected by substance use disorder and unintentional overdose. The Healthy State Alliance, a strategic partnership between Mercy Health and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, has joined forces to pay tribute to those who have died and to raise awareness about combatting the overdose crisis.
Through a united front in education, research, and clinical care, the Healthy State Alliance is dedicated to shedding light on the challenges posed by addiction and mental health while emphasizing the potential for recovery.
Ronda Lehman, President of Mercy Health—Lima shares, "This day offers us an opportunity to reflect on the lives lost and extend our support to their loved ones. As a community, we want to remember those no longer with us and work towards a healthier future. Compassion, care, and hope are pivotal in creating change and helping individuals and families in Ohio."
As part of the observance, many Ohio Mercy Health hospitals will hold a moment of silence and display purple ribbons around their campuses. Staff members will wear purple ribbons to honor those who have lost their lives to overdose. The goal of this visual is to support grieving families and promote overdose prevention and addiction treatment services.
The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center will host a Night of Remembrance at 7 p.m. tonight (Aug. 27) at Ohio State East Hospital. The event will commemorate those who have lost lives to overdose and acknowledge the grief felt in their absence. The program will include reflections and personal accounts from friends and family members. Media are invited to attend.Free naloxone and overdose prevention materials will be available, and the outside of Ohio State East Hospital will be lit in purple in honor of those who have died from overdose. Elsewhere at Ohio State’s main medical center plaza and outpatient care centers, purple ribbons and signs will be visible to remind visitors and staff of those making the journey through recovery.
Mercy Health and Ohio State Wexner Medical Center will extend their commitment to the cause by observing National Recovery Month throughout September. This initiative aims to educate people on the transformative power of substance use treatment and mental health services in facilitating a fulfilling, healthy life.
"National Recovery Month serves as a beacon of hope for individuals battling substance use disorders. It is a time to spread awareness about the possibilities of recovery and to offer support to those in need," said Trent Hall, DO, an addiction medicine specialist with Ohio State Wexner Medical Center’s Talbot Hall.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an estimated 20.9 million adults in the United States identify as being in recovery from a substance use disorder.
Expert addiction specialists and peer supporters from Mercy Health and Ohio State Wexner Medical Center are available during National Recovery Month and year-round to engage in discussions and provide support. To discover more about the Healthy State Alliance, please visit healthystatealliance.org.
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Media Contacts:
Lisa Dyson | Mercy Health | ldyson@mercy.com | 513-404-6302
Eileen Scahill | The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center | Eileen.Scahill@osumc.edu | 614-293-2092