Every Year on Aug. 31, International Overdose Awareness Day is held. This is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind. In Carbon and Emery counties, this day means a lot to residents of the area, as both counties have been hit extremely hard by the opioid epidemic and are nestled in the middle of a drug-trafficking highway. 

This year on Saturday, Aug. 31, residents of the two counties can gather at the Huntington Lake State Park to remember those lost to overdose at the annual A Light to Remember event. Castle Country Radio talked with Dr. Ashley Yaugher about everything to do with the event.

Opening our discussion, Dr. Yaugher explained the purpose of the event,” On Aug. 31, we recognize all the people that we have lost to substance use, overdose, and any of those kinds of related deaths.” She continued,” People think that maybe this isn’t a problem in certain communities, but it’s an issue everywhere. And so we wanted to hold a space for people who have lost loved ones, friends, colleagues, co-workers, neighbors, and anybody else who wants to join us in solidarity to hold a space for people without any stigma and talk about overdose prevention and recognize that there is hope.”

Dr. Yaugher then dove into more details on what the event entails,” things get kicked off with a performance from the Hope Children’s Choir. It’s going to be beautiful and set the tone for the event. And then we’ll have a couple of naloxone training sessions during the event. We also have a moment of silence where we’ll join and just hold a space for people. And we’ll have a luminary lighting ceremony at 8 p.m. … There’s also a memory wall where people can come and write a memory or put a picture of their loved one.”

Another aspect Dr. Yaugher wanted to discuss was the importance of events like these,” unfortunately, our area continues to be high in the state for the number of overdose deaths that we have. So it’s important for us to have this event here and to bring people together and talk about these resources because our communities do have so many great resources in Carbon and Emery County for people who are currently using substances, for people who are in recovery and for family members as well.”

The last item that Dr. Yaugher touched on was the carpools available for people going to the event,” we do have free rides available from Price, East Carbon, and Castledale. So if you need a ride, go ahead and check out our Facebook page, it has all the details on there and we’re continuing to update them.”

A Light to Remember will be held starting at 6 p.m. at Huntington Lake State Park and will run until 8:30 p.m. “Come join us, have a meal, and just get together in hope and healing.”