MORRIS PLAINS — Morris County will hold its seventh annual Overdose Awareness Day ceremony at 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 31, outside the Human Services Complex at One Medical Drive in Morris Plains.
Families who have lost loved ones to overdose or fentanyl poisoning are invited to arrive at 9:30 a.m. to view memorial name banners. The program will feature county and state officials, guest speakers, service providers and nonprofit partners. Attendees are welcome to bring chairs.
Overdose Awareness Day is recognized internationally every August 31 to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding the opioid crisis, including fentanyl-related overdoses. The Morris County event is organized by the Morris County Division of Community and Behavioral Health Services in collaboration with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and its Hope One mobile services unit, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and community partners.
State Senator Anthony Bucco sponsored legislation, signed by then-Governor Phil Murphy, designating August 31 as Overdose Awareness Day in New Jersey. The Morris County Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution recognizing the observance.
The annual ceremony honors people who were lost to overdoses, recognizes the impact those deaths have on families and communities, and highlights the resources available to support prevention, treatment and recovery.
