A Time to Remember, A Time to Act - Overdose Awareness Picnic is Aug. 31st

Washington County’s first Overdose Awareness Picnic is scheduled for this Saturday, August 31st, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Washington County Health Department, located at 520 Purcell Drive, Potosi.
The Washington County Health Department along with its partners; Washington County Memorial Hospital, Washington County Ambulance District, Great Mines Health Center and the Washington County Community Partnership are sponsoring this free event for the public. In addition, other vendors and community agencies are participating and will have booths with give aways and resources centered around prevention, overdose, addiction, treatment and recovery. 
The issue of overdose is no longer someone else’s problem. As long as there is drug use and addiction, there will be overdoses. The purpose of this event is to bring awareness about overdose, reduce the stigma of overdose, find ways to prevent overdose and to remember lives lost in our community because of overdose. 
August 31st was chosen because it is also International Overdose Awareness Day, meaning events like ours will be happening all around the world.
Starting at 10 a.m., there will be educational sessions including; how to administer Narcan and how to help someone who is overdosing. There will be free Narcan, Fentanyl testing strips, hygiene products, canned and boxed food giveaways and much more. 
At 11 a.m. there will be a Memorial Service in memory of those lives lost to overdose in Washington County. A memory wall will be set up for those who would like to bring a photo or something to add to the wall in honor of a loved one or friend. 
From 11:15 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be Free hot dogs, chips water and Kona Ice will be given out while supplies last. There will be a bouncy house and face painting for the kids to enjoy. Special bags made up just for kids will be given out to the first 50 children of the age 10 and under who come to participate. 
Again, all the activities and products at the event are free to the public. If you have any questions, please contact Shawnee Douglas 573/438-2164, Kelly Brueggen 573/438-5451 or Brandi Cook 573/438-8555.