Overdose Awareness Day in Pike an effort to stem a rising tide
Milford. Narcan will be distributed in Milford on Aug. 31. A celebration of recovery event at Akenac Park in Dingmans Ferry in September is also planned.
Milford /
| 04 Aug 2021 | 02:48
Carbon, Monroe, Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission held a Narcan distribution in Pike County last summer (Facebook photo)
Since 2014, there have been 100 overdose deaths in Pike County.
To raise awareness of this growing problem, and to reduce the stigma associated with addiction, the county will observe Overdose Awareness Day on Tuesday, Aug. 31.
A pinwheel display in remembrance of those who have lost their lives due to overdose will be featured on the lawn of the Pike County Courthouse from Aug. 23 to Sept. 3.
International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held on Aug. 31 not only to raise awareness but to also acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or were permanently injured as a result of drug overdose.
To combat the increasing number of overdose deaths in the county, the Carbon, Monroe, Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission (CMP) and the Pike County Substance Abuse Taskforce will be distributing Narcan at 10 Buist Road, Suite 201, in Milford from 2 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 31. If you cannot attend, call the Pike County CMP Office at 570-296-1054 to schedule a pick-up time.
“Recovery is a difficult process,” said Shannon Wisniewski, the commission’s Milford outpatient supervisor. “Everyone should be able to access the programs they need regardless of insurance. CMP attempts to eliminate barriers by making resources and treatment services accessible at all levels of care.”
The commission is also planning a celebration of recovery event on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Akenac Park in Dingmans Ferry. The event will celebrate those in recovery, those working towards recovery, and remind others that recovery is possible.
The Substance Abuse Taskforce is looking for volunteers invested in addressing the opioid crisis in Pike County. The taskforce meets the last Wednesday of the month at 11 a.m. Interested parties should visit pikepa.org/opioid to contact the taskforce to learn more. For information about Overdose Awareness Day or drug and alcohol treatment services available in Pike County, visit the Carbon, Monroe, Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission website at cmpda.cog.pa.us or call 570-296-1054.
An after-hours hotline is reachable 24/7 at 1-866-824-3578.