Photo by Jacob Perryman Participants release biodegradable purple balloons honoring overdose victims Thursday evening during an overdose awareness event at General Joseph Warren Park.

Those on the front lines of the battle with addiction marked International Overdose Awareness Day with an eye toward the future.

The event at General Joseph Warren Park featured live music, food and the chance to learn more about substance abuse issues and interact with others affected by them.

The event was hosted by Family Services of Warren County, Inc. in conjunction with other area agencies.

“As a community, we wanted to create an event where people could just have a cookie, have a water, sit and just be present with each other,” Family Services Executive Director Kim Holtz said, noting the COVID-19 pandemic had created a gap in opportunities for people to gather. “We wanted to just create a sense of safety.”

The event hosted ten organizations helping spread awareness. A remembrance wall was also available for attendees to sign.

“We have a lot of movement in the state,” Family Services Director of Substance Abuse Services Andrew Cauley said of work to aid those who overdose. “There’s growing awareness people don’t recover all at once. We need to help them where they’re at and at the level they’re willing to accept.”

He noted Narcan – which is a legal, openly available drug used to immediately treat an overdose – is being made more easily accessible to the public.

“We’re trying to get it into as many hands as possible,” Cauley said. “It doesn’t really work if it’s only in the hands of first responders. It needs to be accessible to family members and those living with those with substance abuse issues –the frontline.”

He noted the goal was to reduce the damage and lives lost due to overdose.

“We need to give people the best chance at recovery,” Cauley said.

The event culminated with the release of biodegradable purple balloons in honor of overdose victims.