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The Stanly County Project Lazarus observance of International Overdose Awareness Day will be moved to Stanly County Commons due to forecasted weather. The event will be indoors from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 31 at 1000 N. First St., Albemarle.

Everyone is welcome to attend this event in honor and remembrance of those impacted by overdose.

The event will include local speakers from the recovery community and luminaries to honor those affected by overdose. Local prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery resources will have information to share with the community.

Observed on Aug. 31 every year, International Overdose Awareness Day seeks to create a better understanding of overdose, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths and create change that reduces the harms associated with drug use. For the month of August, purple flags and “Time to Remember, Time to Act” yard signs can be found at partner agencies across Stanly County to bring awareness to the 3,875 deaths in North Carolina and 20 deaths in Stanly County attributed to overdose in 2022.

Stanly County Project Lazarus is a substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery coalition. This coalition works to develop relationships, practices and procedures to increase the ability to respond to substance use in the community.

For more information, contact Wendy Growcock, Stanly County Project Lazarus coordinator, at wgrowcock@stanlycountync.gov.