The Neighborhood Resource Center is Committed to Reducing the Number of Opiate Overdose Deaths in Bay County
McLaren Bay Region in partnership with the Neighborhood Resource Center (NRC) is hosting a "Purple-Out" in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31st. McLaren Bay Region employees, as well as the community, are encouraged to wear purple and share a photo on Bay County Prevention Network's Facebook page with the #IOAD2020 hashtag. In addition, the South Tower entrance of McLaren Bay Region as well as over 20 businesses in Auburn will be lit up with purple lights with the goal of helping to raise awareness for the cause.
"Similar to other life-threatening diseases, people suffering with substance use disorder are in a fight for their life and need to know that people around them in their communities are on their side and supportive of them. If people living this battle believe they have no support and are facing the stigma of addiction, their chances of recovery diminish," said Mark Treiber, Exercise Physiologist at McLaren Bay Region and member of Neighbors Against Drug Abuse. "We watched our son valiantly fight this disease for years before heroin finally won. Unless you have witnessed this first hand, I understand it is difficult to imagine the power of opiates and heroin and their ability to hijack a persons mind."
In coordination with the "Purple-Out", the Neighborhood Resource Center will be hosting an all-day event on August 31st at their building located at 400 S. Trumbull (in the front of the McLaren Diabetes Education building). Event hours are from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Staff will be on hand providing free Narcan and training for how to administer the life-saving drug. Supplies are limited at the event. If supplies run out, contact information will be taken and NRC will make sure to distribute Narcan to all attendees once supplies are replenished. Drug disposal bags as well as drug disposal cards with drop-off location information will also be distributed at the event.
"Given the increase in overdoses since the beginning of COVID-19, it is imperative that we focus on helping people to have hope and healing instead of dying from an opiate overdose," said Barry Schmidt of the Neighborhood Resource Center. "We couldn't do this without the overwhelming support of the community. Specifically, support from McLaren Bay Region, Neighbors Against Drug Abuse, Bay County Prevention Network, and our Partnership for Success 2015 Grant through Bay Arenac Behavioral Health, is making this event possible. Our goal is to bring the number of overdoses in Bay County down to zero."
For more information on the event please call (989) 316-4120 or send a direct message on the Bay County Prevention Network's Facebook page.