Memorial event honors families of loved ones lost to overdose deaths

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- With International Overdose Awareness Day on Saturday, a memorial event honoring families who have lost a loved one due to overdoses was held at the Franklin Park Conservatory.

In Columbus alone, there were over 600 overdose deaths in 2023, according to the Columbus and Franklin County Addiction Plan. Franklin County Coroner Nate Overmire believes it was necessary they hold the event Wednesday to show support for people in the community, those struggling with addiction, and continue the conversation of preventing overdose deaths.

“It's important to be in community, in solidarity, to remember those who lost so that we can continue to bring awareness to this really important issue,” Overmire said. “Every day in Franklin County, there's at least one, if not two, three, sometimes four overdoses every day. And so, it's important to remember those who we've lost, but also to bring awareness to prevent this from happening again.”

Overmire hoped the event would help reduce the shame of addiction and mental health so that someone can have the courage to ask for help.

“It's 2024 and there's still so much work that has to be done and so much stigma that still challenges the work that we do,” Overmire said.

The guest speaker, author David Sheff, understands what these people are going through. His son overdosed but survived. He said people need to learn more to prevent deaths.

“Well, one of the things that we need to do is do a lot of education, because a lot of people are dying right now without realizing that they're taking some of the most dangerous drugs, which include fentanyl,” Sheff said.