By Okon Ekpenyong

In celebration of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2023, Hope in Bloom (community resource fair) was a collaborative initiative coordinated by Franklin County Public Health to promote recovery and resilience in the fight against overdose deaths by collaborating with community leaders and health advocacy groups. 

The effort raises overdose awareness and reduces the stigma of drug-related deaths. This event is held in many countries worldwide and aims to provide a platform for people to share their stories, experiences, and understanding of overdose. It is a day to remember those who have been affected by overdose and to show support to those who are still struggling.

In Franklin County in Ohio, overdose rates have increased alarmingly. The county also has the highest overdose rates in the state, and there is evidence that the opioid epidemic and other substances devastate immigrant families.

That’s why, throughout Thursday evening, resource groups who gathered outside the Chase Plaza outside the lower .com field, including Franklin County Public Health and its partners, worked together to provide prevention resources and create a supportive environment for those affected by substance abuse. The initiative also seeks to raise awareness of the dangers and realities of substance use and to remember those who have died from overdoses.

As a part of their efforts to engage attendees, organizers brought food trucks like Flavor 91, based out of Whitehall, Ohio, and local bands to create awareness and build community engagement. 

Also, studies show that immigrants are vulnerable to opioid addiction because they lack access to healthcare and other resources, resulting in a higher rate of overdose-related deaths among these groups.

To support this effort, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) collaborated to launch data dashboards in Marxh of 2023 that provide overdose, substance use measures, and other public health indicators for all 88 counties in Ohio. 

The dashboards are designed to provide a comprehensive look at the opioid crisis in each county, helping to inform targeted strategies for prevention, treatment, and recovery. Governor DeWine said, “Expanding the HEALing Communities Study dashboards to all 88 Ohio counties provides invaluable data that will allow local organizations and communities to better plan for their needs as they battle this public health crisis in our state – and ultimately save lives.”

Columbus and Franklin County Addiction Plan and ADAMH Board of Franklin County were about the resource organization sponsoring the event. They used the hashtag “Time To Act” to continue raising awareness. 

Dr. Emily Kauffman, an emergency medicine physician and clinical associate professor at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, was one of the guest speakers. Andrea Boxill, the Columbus Public Health Addiction Services Division’s Public Health Administrator, Dru Batte, the Compdrug Community Health Advocate, and John Dawson, President and CEO of Community For New Direction, also spoke at the event. Kathy Cowen, the Director of the Office of Epidemiology at Columbus Public Health, was also one of the panelists. 

Dr. Rob Graessie, Founder of Basecamp Recovery and an ER Physician, stated that one of the newest initiatives he is working on is partnering with community leaders within the New American communities to understand better how impactful treatment can be and to ensure that when they start, an individual must complete their treatment plans. 

Dr. Graessie also hopes to bridge the gap between the medical and immigrant communities by providing education and resources to help those with substance abuse issues. He believes that by providing access to resources, information, and support, these individuals have a better chance of completing their treatment plans and recovering from addiction.

The Franklin County coroner’s office reported a dramatic rise in overdose deaths since the start of the pandemic. Since then, the county and city have continued to take steps to address the issue, including investing resources to help those suffering from addiction and to provide recovery support. However, there is still much more that we can do, and today’s International Overdose Awareness Day is a vital reminder to all that, regardless of ethnicity, they too can become a victim.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, Franklin County had the highest rate of drug overdoses in Ohio in 2019, with more than 1,200 overdose deaths in the county. The majority of the overdoses were opioid-related, with over 70% of the overdoses attributed to opioids, including both prescription and illicit opioids.

And that’s why Community members and leaders continue joining forces to offer solutions and support those struggling with addiction. They are also advocating for increased access to treatment, prevention, and recovery services to reduce the number of overdose deaths.

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