Coalition Corner | Drug Coalition remembers lives misplaced to overdose and celebrates restoration

The Cambria County Drug Coalition Drug Treatment and Restoration Committee is keeping an celebration to mark Global Overdose Awareness Working day at 7 p.m. Aug. 31 at People’s Organic Gas Park in Johnstown.

Worldwide Overdose Awareness Working day is a international occasion initiated in 2001. This campaign aims to remember, devoid of stigma, individuals who have died and to admit the grief of the household and buddies still left at the rear of. This will be the fifth yearly party prepared in Cambria County.

The mission of CCDC’s Drug Treatment and Recovery Committee is to guide Cambria County individuals and family members that are battling with the devastation induced by compound-use disorder to a restoration-oriented way of lifetime via the use of lived encounter, education and advocacy for, and on behalf of, people influenced by this difficulty though minimizing the stigma linked with it. In purchase to achieve this perform, customers of the committee plan events this sort of as this just one in the group to lessen stigma and elevate consciousness that restoration is achievable. The committee is composed of individuals who are dwelling in prolonged-phrase recovery as perfectly as all those who operate in the Drug Treatment method area.

They satisfy bi-every month to hook up with new members, share the get the job done that they are performing, prepare events and agenda trainings.

This year’s party will characteristic an Empty Chair Memorial.

Good friends and relatives members who have shed loved types to overdose are inspired to deliver images or objects to place in the chairs in remembrance. Three hundred sixty-9 chairs will be put – a single for each lifetime lost during the previous 5 yrs in Cambria County. More chairs will be offered to be put for those people who have shed loved types exterior of the five several years and all attendees are welcome to bring memorials for their beloved types. Richland Household Well being Center is supporting this celebration by sponsoring the venue as well as the Vacant Chair Memorial.

Cambria County President Commissioner Thomas Chernisky is scheduled to go through a proclamation declaring Aug. 31 as Intercontinental Overdose Consciousness Day. The party also features speakers, audio and a looking at of “Someone I Liked Died from a Drug Overdose,” by area writer Melody Ray.

Overdose Recognition is signified by the shade purple, and the Stone Bridge will be lit up in purple for the celebration. Special thanks to our sponsor Forge Overall health for earning this attainable. New music and live streaming aid with be presented by Tyler Roxby and is sponsored by White Deer Run Cure Network.

The function also will be dwell-streamed by means of the Cambria County Drug Coalition’s Facebook page for individuals who can’t go to in individual. The website link to the function can be identified at www.facebook.com/CambriaCountyDrugCoalition.

On Sept. 26, the CCDC’s Drug Remedy and Restoration Committee will maintain its fifth yearly Restoration in the Valley occasion from 1 to 5 p.m. at Central Park in Downtown Johnstown. National Restoration Thirty day period, an annual celebration sponsored by the Compound Abuse and Mental Wellbeing Services Administration (SAMHSA), is a countrywide observance held every single September with the aim of raising recognition and comprehension of mental and compound-use problems and celebrating individuals in restoration.

Psychological ailment and substance-use issues have an effect on people today of all ethnicities, ages, genders, geographic areas and socioeconomic concentrations.

Households and communities can make a distinction.

This year’s function will element 4 speakers from distinctive paths of restoration, adopted by new music and leisure for all ages. This function also will attribute resource tables hosted by behavioral overall health vendors, public data about diverse pathways of recovery and several church teams giving help to all those having difficulties with material-use problems. There also will be possibilities to community, love children’s activities and have enjoyment images taken in the image booth. Food items will be supplied by community distributors, and each individual attendee will be presented a voucher for a complimentary lunch from one of the distributors.

This event is held in partnership with Magellan Wellbeing of Pennsylvania and Behavioral Health and fitness of Cambria County.

All three companies arrive alongside one another to reveal assistance for the recovery local community. We urge local community associates to sign up for the celebration of recovery and help us remove the stigma and discrimination of people with behavioral health and fitness problems.

Presenting guidance to those encountering mental and compound-use problems can make a substantial change. Alongside one another, we can help other people realize the promise of restoration and give family members the proper help to help their beloved types.

If you or a liked 1 is having difficulties with mental health, alcohol or other drug concerns, remember to prepare to arrive out. You will have the chance to meet with folks and discover about sources in our neighborhood that can assistance.

Help is obtainable, no matter of cash flow or insurance coverage, by getting in contact with Cambria County Drug and Alcoholic beverages Applications at 814-536-5388.

Stephanie Cassanese is effective as a Restoration Help Navigator for Magellan Health of Pennsylvania. She is a Licensed Peer Specialist Supervisor, with in excess of 20 years’ experience in the Mental Overall health and Substance Use field. Serving also as a member of the Drug Treatment method & Recovery sector committee of the Coalition.

Stephanie Cassanese is effective as a Restoration Aid Navigator for Magellan Health of Pennsylvania. She is a Licensed Peer Specialist Supervisor, with above 20 years’ experience in the Mental Health and fitness and Material Use industry. Serving also as a member of the Drug Treatment & Recovery sector committee of the Coalition.