BECKLEY, WV (WOAY) – Today marked the fourth International Overdose Awareness Day in Raleigh County.
Since 2021, the event has become a lot more personal and close… with many returning this year to take part.
“Coming from all over the community — people are reaching out, asking for support (after) those that they’ve lost. In the last couple of years, we’ve had a lot of OD (overdose) raises in Raleigh County and all of southern West Virginia. So we want to make sure that this is an annual event,” said Raleigh County Prevention Coalition Chair Amanda Hammons.
They were there to educate, offer overdose prevention materials and support the community for those who may have lost someone to a fatal overdose. Show them that there’s support in numbers.
“And bring some really wonderful people to the table,” Hammons said. “This year we actually had a sponsorship from ARH. They do some amazing stuff with naloxone training, with CPR.”
ARH Regional Community Development Manager Kelly Elkins says if you are at this event you are family, our neighbors and friends.
“ARH, we’re all about community and being involved in the community and boots on the ground,” said Elkins. “That’s what we do. The organizations that we have today, there is recovery and there is hope.”
The rise in fentanyl and xylazine overdoses is concerning. According to Hammons, they are seeing those illicit substances or substances themselves being pressed into pills.
“There’s individuals that aren’t even aware of the fact that that they are being dosed and there is such a recall on the naloxone being reactive to the new substances with the fentanyl and the xylazine,” Hammons said. “So we’re definitely trying to spread awareness to get as much out there as possible.”
We have all been affected in one way or another by substance use disorder. If you are still struggling, ARH and RCPC can connect you with the state resources you need.
“Where you can go in and there are beds available,” said Elkins. “If you’re coming to the hospital you are going to be met with one of our peer support specialists, (who) is going to talk you through the steps of how to get you on that road to recovery.”
Hammons says it is monumental to them to hear from the community.
“Those stories are really important to us,” she said. “They can be kept private or they can be made public to show hope to others. But just know that you’re not alone. We’ve got some great numbers with Help & Hope WV. You can call the Prevention Coalition line and we can hook you up with other numbers. And always depend on ARH as well. They’re there for you.”
