Every year on August 31, events are held around the world to remember those who have lost their lives to overdose.
This year, the Chatham-Kent Drug Awareness Council (CKDAC) will be holding a number of events across the community for Overdose Awareness Day.
"We're going to have a Facebook Live memorial," said Director Scott Roose. "We'll just share some points and have a moment of silence for people to come to remember those who've they lost as family members, and to remember those that we are still working to save today."
Roose says this year's event is even more important because overdose has become a much bigger issue during the pandemic.
"We've seen some numbers just beyond scope at this point. I don't have any exact numbers at this point, but knowing what we know so far, the pandemic has really just sent people into bad places."
Roose added that they will have memorials sites throughout the community that the public can visit.
"You'll be able to bring any sort of memorial, flowers, light a candle. You'll also be able to pick up our purple ribbons that you can share on your property, to show your support for Overdose Awareness Day."
The memorial sites include the CMHA office in Chatham at 240 Grand Ave West, Ashley's Place in Tilbury at 75 Queen Street West, the Westover Treatment Centre in Thamesville, the CIBC Bandshell in Dresden, Blenheim Baptist Church at 24 Talbot Street, and the Wallaceburg at CMHA/CHC at 808 Dufferin Street.
For more information on the CKDAC or to access resources on overdose, visit their website at ckdac.ca.