International Overdose Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
08.25.2026
Contact: Thomas Fuller, Community Support Services Supervisor, The Freedom Center
740-397-2660
 
Overdose Can Affect Anyone - Come Together on August 31st

The Freedom Center and community partners invite you to come together on Monday, August 31st, to remember those who have died or suffered permanent injury due to drug overdose and support families who have lost loved ones over the years.

The event is set to take place at Ariel Foundation Park in Mount Vernon, Ohio beginning at 5:00pm. Community resources will be available including The Freedom Center, Knox Public Health, Knox Recovery, New Directions, Municipal Probation, Rooted In Recovery, The Main Place, Afterglow, New Vision, and others. Family and friends will have an opportunity to share stories and a moment of silence will be held to honor those lost. The event will conclude with the illumination of the tower in purple to symbolize awareness of overdose and its effects.

To submit a tribute for a loved one visit https://bit.ly/SubmitATribute
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) seeks to create better understanding of overdose, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths, and create change to reduce the harms associated with drug use. By holding an event each year, Knox County joins the global movement for understanding, compassion, and change.