Why are flags at half-staff in Ohio?

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Gov. Mike DeWine has ordered U.S. and Ohio flags to be flown at half-staff.

Flags will be lowered on Ohio’s public buildings and grounds at the statehouse, the Vern Riffe Center and the Rhodes Tower in honor of Ohio Overdose Awareness Day on Saturday. The national and state flags will remain at half-staff at all other public buildings and grounds throughout the state until sunset.

“Overdose Awareness Day reminds us that we are all connected in the fight against addiction. It’s a time to remember those we’ve lost and to reflect on the resilience of those who are in recovery,” said DeWine in a release. “Through awareness and support, we can turn tragedy into action and strengthen our communities.”

Established in 2021 by Senate Bill 30, Ohio Overdose Awareness Day aims to remember the lives lost to the ongoing national opioid epidemic and ushers in September as Recovery Month.

To help local communities promote Overdose Awareness Day, leaders from DeWine’s RecoveryOhio initiative, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (MHAS) have created an Ohio Overdose Awareness Day Toolkit .

From 2019 to 2023, the number of opioid treatment programs in Ohio has surged from 35 to 125. Over the same span, the number of patients served by these OTPs increased from 21,365 to 38,132. As part of this year’s observance, state officials are also promoting Naloxone.Ohio.gov , an online resource that provides Ohioans with a simplified process for obtaining free naloxone, a life-saving drug used to reverse an opioid overdose.

“Overdose Awareness Day is an opportunity to honor the lives lost to overdose and emphasize the importance of raising awareness about the risks associated with substance use, while also reducing the stigma around addiction,” said Aimee Shadwick, director of the RecoveryOhio initiative. “This day is about bringing our communities together to support those struggling with addiction and to strengthen our efforts in education, prevention, and recovery.”

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