Recovery Together ENC honors International Overdose Awareness Day
Photo: Seraphim Smith Facebook page.
INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY
August 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), a global campaign to end overdose. This day serves as an opportunity to remember loved ones who have died from drug overdose as well as to acknowledge the grief of those left behind and to encourage support and recovery for everyone impacted by substance use and overdose.
Throughout August, the Recovery Together ENC Center will support this effort by the placing of flags in front of the Recovery Together mural located across McLewean Street from the Lenoir County Health Department. This mural was created by artist, Seraphim Smith in honor of those whose lives have been cut short by overdose. Community members may stop by the Recovery Together ENC Center for a white flag, which can be inscribed with the name of a friend, family member or other loved one who has been lost to overdose. The flags will be placed in front of the mural. Additional purple flags will represent those across the state who have died. On August 27, 2025 at 1:00 pm, a service of remembrance will be held at the mural wall.
The Recovery Together ENC Center is a part of the Community Recovery Division of the Greene and Lenoir Public Health Departments which serves as a resource center. Services provided at the Recovery Together ENC Center includes Lenoir Community College’s Keys to Hope program which provides adult employability assistance. The Lenoir, Greene, Jones Reentry program is also located at the center which helps provide support to those returning to the community from incarceration or who are on probation. The Recovery Together ENC Center also provides resource connection for treatment, housing, transportation, and recovery support groups and NA. The Community Recovery Division also oversees the 9th Judicial District Accountability and Recovery Court Program.
The Recovery Together ENC Center is located at 115 East North Street, Kinston, NC. Please check out the website at www.recoverytogetherenc.com.
Elizabeth A. Heath, former District Court judge for 8A and 8B Judicial Districts
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