Rock Hill Comemmorates International Overdose Awareness Day

Rock Hill, SC: A City Remembers Lost Lives in a Special Vigil

Rock Hill, South Carolina held a special event in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) on August 31st. The annual global day seeks to educate, raise awareness about drug overdoses, reduce stigma, and offer support for those coping with the aftermath of an overdose-related death or injury. This international event stresses the preventable nature of an overdose-related death.

Strewn With 118 Luminary Bags

The city welcomed residents to come pay their respects at a luminary vigil, organized by Keystone, at Fountain Park. 118 luminary bags, each glowing with a purple light, stood in solemn commemoration of the 118 lives cut short due to drug overdoses in York County in 2023. Along with the remembrance, Keystone provided free luminary bags to those wanting to honor loved ones lost to overdose, as well as Narcan to help prevent future overdoses.

Other Resources and Initiatives

Additionally, educational materials and resources for support groups in York County were available at the vigil. Keystone also distributed Deterra at-home drug deactivation bags for expired or unused medications, furthering their efforts to prevent drug overdoses. The York County Coroner’s Office also shared words of support and encouragement.

Community Engagement

Members of the community were encouraged to show support in several ways. These included wearing purple, changing their porch light to a purple bulb, or tying a purple ribbon to their tree or mailbox. Furthermore, the Main Street water tower was lit in purple by the city symbolizing unity and support for IOAD.

Pushing for Change

Through this vigil and numerous other initiatives, Keystone continues its mission of improving the quality of life for individuals and families affected by substance abuse. Keystone, the City of Rock Hill, and its residents thus stood in solidarity not just with each other but also with a global community striving for understanding, compassion, and change.