Flint, Michigan – The Office of Public Health is getting ready for National Overdose Awareness Day by hosting a community event on the front lawn of Flint City Hall. The event will take place on Saturday, August 30, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is meant to bring people together to face the reality of addiction, commemorate those who have died, and honor those who have been saved.
There will be speakers sharing their personal stories, local groups offering services, and chances for the public to become involved in prevention and recovery initiatives throughout the day. The organizers stressed that the event is free and available to everyone, and that its purpose is to encourage people to talk to each other and get rid of the taboo around overdose.
As part of the week’s events, residents have been asked to send in the names of people they loved who died from an overdose or lived because someone helped them. During the event, these names will be read aloud to show how many people have died.
“Since 2021, Genesee County has experienced 3,296 overdose reversals and 985 overdose-related deaths. Of these, the City of Flint accounts for 2,253 reversals and 658 deaths,” City of Flint Public Health Manager Shebra Ward said.
“The impact of this epidemic on our community has been profound, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting affected individuals and raising awareness through targeted, community-based initiatives.”
Before the event begins, a symbolic display has already been put up on the lawn of City Hall. The purple flags stand for people who have died, while the white flags are for people who have been saved by overdose reversals. The picture is both a memorial and a reminder of the ongoing crisis.
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The Genesee County Prevention Coalition, a nonprofit that works to lower drug and alcohol misuse and help people recover, is helping to plan the event. The organizers want to raise awareness and resilience in the community by combining public health data with personal stories and community involvement.
City officials are asking people to come to the event, whether they do it by attending, submitting a name for recognition, or just stopping by the display. For Flint, where the number of overdoses remain high, the message is one of remembering those who have died, supporting those who are still alive, and being determined to keep fighting addiction.