Published August 28, 2019

New London — The Opioid Action Team of the Health Improvement Collaborative of Southeastern Connecticut will host an overdose awareness and prevention event on Friday.

The event, “A Time to Remember ... a Time to Act,” runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Williams Park in New London. The event, preceded by an informational briefing and call to action for legislators and agency heads, commemorates International Overdose Awareness Day.

In addition to public remembrance of community members lost to overdose, the event will feature distribution of free overdose-reversal kits, safe disposal of unused medications, yoga and information from services providers. Free overdose-reversal kits will also be distributed in the downtown municipal parking lot.

Jennifer Muggeo, supervisor for special projects from Ledge Light Health District, said there is broad collaboration behind the event.

“We are grateful for the contributions of numerous community partners. Thanks to the generous support of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, we are able to assure that everyone who comes to the event can receive a naloxone kit at no out-of-pocket expense,” Muggeo said in a statement. Naloxone is an opioid overdose-reversal drug.

“The NL CARES Recovery Navigators and twenty treatment providers and community organizations will participate to share information and support. This is a true community effort,” she said.

Carol Jones, director of harm reduction for Alliance for Living, a co-sponsor of the event, agreed.

“This is a meaningful way to honor lives lost from overdose as well as to educate our community on how to prevent more deaths from occurring,” Jones said.

“I’m proud to say New London is a leader in addressing this public health crisis. The Opioid Action Team, through collaboration, coordination and communication, is truly making a difference,” New London Mayor Michael Passero said in a statement.