Morgantown organization remembers those lost due to opioid use

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — A local woman is painting tombstones for those who have died due to substance use for an eventual display in Ruby McQuain Park.

The exhibition, called Trail of Truth, is part of a national effort to signify the toll of the opioid epidemic. Abby Coulter, founder of a Morgantown harm reduction advocacy organization called the Medication Assisted Treatment Support and Awareness, or MATSA, is helping to bring Trail of Truth to Morgantown.

Coulter explained the importance of put the opioid epidemic in a human context and hopes Trail of Truth can be a call to action.

“The goal of this project is just to bring awareness around the fact that overdose numbers are increasing, and it’s time to do something to make the change,” Coulter said.

Each tombstone has a picture as well as a message from the deceased’s family.

If you’re interested in volunteering to help make the tombstones or would like to submit a biography of a loved one, visit the MATSA Facebook page . MATSA’s Trail of Truth will be unveiled on Aug. 31 and the eventual national goal is to install a Trail of Truth in Washington DC next year.

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