The Oneida County Opioid Task Force recognized International Overdose Awareness Day with an event focusing on the stigma surrounding addiction that featured a nationally-recognized expert from Shatterproof, a national non-profit dedicated to combatting the addiction crisis in America and eliminating the stigma of substance abuse disorder and a special video that included the perspectives of a local parent who lost a child to overdose and a person with addiction.

The event featured a special video commissioned by the Task Force that included perspectives from a parent who lost a child to overdose, a person living with addiction and a medical provider who focused on how the negative impacts of stigma and shame affects people with addiction.

The OTF announced future initiatives as well as the results of the county’s “Save-a-Life” naloxone (Narcan) distribution campaign, and recognized the many partner agencies that participated in an unprecedented distribution of over 1,200 naloxone kits to businesses and community members in just two months’ time. Distribution teams promoting naloxone as a first a first aid tool, also attended numerous community events and even mailed the kits to those who requested them online.