This week, the Montgomery County Community Overdose Action Team celebrated Overdose Awareness Day, a free event to honor victims and provide resources to those in need.

More than 500 community members gathered at the Levitt Pavilion to support people with substance abuse problems and share resources for prevention and treatment.

Dan Suffoleto of the Dayton & Montgomery County Health Department said the event promotes effective prevention and treatment measures.

“There is a lot of stigma around overdoses and addiction, and we want people to understand that it’s OK to seek help. It’s OK to talk to doctors,” Suffoleto said.

Accidental overdose deaths have declined in Montgomery County over the past three years, with public health data showing there were 292 deaths in 2023, compared to 337 deaths in 2021.

Dayton resident Porthea Dennis believes the decline is due to greater awareness and resources.

“There was a call to action and I’ve seen a lot of improvement by now giving Narcan along with the medications and teaching families how to proceed and giving them peer support to get them on the road to recovery,” Dennis said. “That’s what we need to continue to do.””

The event also featured music, games, food trucks, and people also had the opportunity to learn about the use of naloxone in overdoses.

For more information and resources, visit the Community Overdose Action Team website.