The Stark County Health Department is joining a Free Community Event to highlight substance use disorder (SUD) & overdose awareness.
The Stark County Health Department and nearly a dozen community agencies are joining together for this event.
The Walk Together: Overdose Awareness Day Event will take place on Saturday, August 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Petros Lake Park, a Stark Park, located at 3519 Perry Dr. SW in Canton. This event is held ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day on Wednesday, August 31. Residents can find out more information about the event on the Save Stark platform created by the health department.
“We have experienced more lives lost to overdose in the past two years than at any other time,” said Health Commissioner Kirkland Norris, REHS, MPH. “This event gives our health department and other community agencies the opportunity to share resources with those who need them most.”
Residents will be walking the mile-long Mindfulness Walk located within the grounds of Petros Lake Park. Along the trail, residents can stop and visit 10 activity stations including a testimonial table with recorded videos from a parent who has lost a child to overdose and someone who has gone through recovery and treatment. Stations also include a memorial rock painting, writing a note of thanks, sharing a story, and more.
“In addition to offering community support, we also aim to educate to the greater community about SUD and beating the stigma of it,” said Health Commissioner Norris.
The event will also host a yoga class by Y12SR whose instructor has received treatment and recovery for a SUD. The Y12SR class combines the practical tools of 12-step programs and cognitive addiction methodologies with the ancient art and science of yoga. Residents will also have the chance to engage with community agencies and pick up a Naloxone kit.
“We hope this event offers further education about SUD and overdose in our community,” said Norris. “We must build understanding and empathy when dealing with this.”
The other participating agencies are the Alliance City Health Department, BrightView, Canton City Public Health, CommQuest, Emmanuel Tabernacle, FastSigns of North Canton, Massillon City Health Department, SARTA, Stark County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery, Stark County TASC, and Zion Community Development Corporation.
The Stark County Combined General Health District (Stark County Health Department) was founded in 1920 and is celebrating a century of health. The department is currently the ninth largest health district in the State of Ohio which serves the public health needs of over 250,000 people. The jurisdiction of the Stark County District is that of the 17 Townships, 12 Villages, and the cities of Louisville, North Canton, and Canal Fulton. The mission of the department is to assess, protect, promote, and improve the health of Stark County through leadership, quality service, and community partnerships.