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The third Annual Western North Carolina Drug Awareness Event was held at Lake Junaluska Sunday afternoon, May 21, organized by "The Share Project" and with the help of many drug treatment and outreach organizations. Co-founders of The Share Project said the goal of the event was for the WNC community to learn more about resources available to those impacted firsthand by the drug epidemic and to help bring awareness and continue fighting the battle against addiction and overdose.
More than 200 people marched down Main Street in Waynesville for the 2nd Annual Drug Awareness Walk, which was organized by The SHARE Project (Spreading Hope and Awareness and Removing the Epidemic Stigma). People shared their stories, some who were in long-term substance use and now in recovery and others who had lost loved ones to drug addiction and overdoses. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)
Nearly 200 people came together last Sunday to march in memory of those lost to addiction. The event, which also called attention to services offered and featured several speeches from those touched by addiction, was hosted by the SHARE Project.
Based in Waynesville, the SHARE Project set out 222 illuminated jars on the steps of the Haywood County Courthouse on Tuesday night to remember, honor and respect all the lives lost to opioid overdoses. That’s how many lives are lost each day around the U.S., and the display was set up as part of International Overdose Awareness Day.
Video made by participant and used with permission.
The thousands of smiling faces displayed on the Haywood Historic Courthouse lawn Monday were a stark reminder of the toll substance abuse has exacted in the nation. The age range of those on the 13 banners was mostly between 19 and 32, and they were just a fraction of the 200 lives lost to drug overdosed each day in the nation.
© 2023 The Share Project.