International Overdose Awareness Day Event held in Scranton

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— Several organizations teamed up today in Lackawanna County to tackle a far-reaching health crisis.

Tens of thousands of people die each year from a drug overdose.

For International Overdose Awareness Day, 28/22 News Reporter Iyee Jagne explains what’s being done locally to help save lives.

Organizations like the Lackawanna Recovery Coalition, the Lackawanna/Susquehanna County Office of Drug & Alcohol Programs, and Geisinger Health System gathered outside Keystone Mission in Scranton for a common cause.

“To reduce stigma in our community. We are aware, unfortunately that people are using drugs in our community so we want to let those people know that we’re there for them,” said Bobby Demeck, Deputy Director of the Lackawanna County Office of Drug & Alcohol Programs.

Dr. Bill Dempsey from the Wright Center for Community Health in Scranton was also there. He says he hopes events like this will help lessen the number of overdose-related deaths.

“Last year, we lost 70,000 people just fentanyl overdoses alone and over 100,000 people to drug overdoses,” stated Dempsey.

Some Geisinger Commonwealth school of medicine students volunteered at the event including Gary McMurtrie who founded a club to help people with substance use disorder.

He says one of his club’s goals is to inform and educate the community on the broader spectrum of what recovery, and getting help can look like.

“Educating the community on the spectrum of drugs is really how to support everyone wherever they’re at in their journey. So that’s, that’s really important to us,” voiced McMurtie.

Narcan, wound care kits, and more where all available for free to community members in need.

“It means a lot to me. I’ve been in this field for almost 10 years. It’s very fulfilling and no matter where somebody’s at with their addiction whether they’re actively using or whether they want treatment, they are deserving of being treated like human beings,” expressed Demeck.

Today’s event was one of many the Lackawanna County Recovery Coalition holds to combat drug related deaths.

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