Moving Starke County Forward Overdose Awareness Event

Posted on August 30, 2017
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

This past Sunday, Moving Starke County Forward hosted an event for Overdose Awareness at Wythogan Park. The event honored the community’s first responders as well as featured moving testimony from a former addict who is now working to raise awareness and promote recovery.

The event coordinator was Jordan Morris, a member of the Moving Starke County Forward Leadership Team. Morris said they wanted to include a ceremony honoring first responders because of the incredible service they provide to the community.

“Honoring first responders seemed to be something that happens less frequently than it probably should,” Morris said, “So we sent invitations to all of the departments that have individuals serving as first responders.”

Fifteen awards were presented to several different departments including the Starke County Sheriff’s Office, dispatch, EMS and local fire departments to thank them for their sacrifices and commitment to the community.

Following the award ceremony, Tiffany Witham shared her recovery story with the crowd of about 50 community members who were gathered for the event. Witham’s former probation officer approached Morris about including Tiffany as the speaker since she was three years clean this past July. Witham struggled with addiction for 6 years before recovering. It was a long, tedious process but she uses her past experiences to help raise awareness and provide recovery encouragement to addicts.

Witham said, “I understand people fear or hate what they don’t understand and there’s a lot of people that do not understand addiction. They hate addicts, they write these horrible things about them…and they need help and it’s a hard habit to break. I just want people to understand that there is hope.”

Tiffany’s full speech can be found on the Moving Starke County Forward Facebook page.

The event concluded with a candlelight vigil where individuals lit a white candle in memory of lost loved ones. International Overdose Awareness Day is Thursday August 31. Community members are encouraged to wear silver or gray on this day to show support for addiction recovery and overdose awareness.

8/27/2017 Overdose Awareness Day

Moving Starke County Forward Schedules Overdose Awareness Vigil

Posted on August 26, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI 

Starke County is making strides in the war on drugs with regard to overdose deaths. Local health department officials say average of nine drug-related deaths were reported between 2008 and 2013, with numbers ranging between seven and 12 annually. Data from 2014 and 2015 indicates four overdoses, which is a significant drop.

Moving Starke County Forward is hosting its second annual Overdose Awareness Day vigil Sunday evening to raise awareness of the problem. It will take place at 6 p.m. at Wythogan Park’s Shelter 2.

Organizers say it will give the community an opportunity to remember those who have lost their lives as a result of an overdose The event will also celebrate those in recovery who are determined to triumph over addiction. Attendees are encouraged to bring a photo of anyone they would like to honor.

Moving Starke County Forward volunteers have already placed ribbons on the Starke Hospital lawn in memory of each local life lost to an overdose.

Moving Starke County Forward Hosts Overdose Awareness Service

Published: August 31, 2015 By: Mary Perren, WKVI

Aaron Kochar from Porter-Starke Services lights a candle in memory of a life lost to a drug overdose. A total of 61 candles were lit during last evening’s ceremony.

Community members paused last night at Wythogan Park to celebrate the 61 Starke County lives lost to drug overdoses over the past seven years as well as those who are in long-term recovery. Aaron Kochar is the director of prevention and education at Porter-Starke Services. He says people are now more likely to die from a fatal overdose than from a car accident.

“Up until last year, if you died in an accident it was some sort of motor vehicle accident. Now it’s overdose. Another statistic that is concerning is the fact that while a number of people will die in overdose from heroin, in fact we’ve got about three times the number who will die from a prescription opioid overdose.”

Kochar says it’s important to properly dispose of prescription drugs that are no longer needed and lock up drugs that are kept in the home.

“We’ll tend to lock up our liquor cabinets, but kids are taking these drugs and having what are known as Skittle parties. They’re taking them out, putting a bunch of pills in a bowl and popping a couple at parties. That’s one of the reasons that we’re seeing such an epidemic with the number of opioids, and then when people can’t access opioids they switch to heroin. The body processes it the same way.”

Recovering addict Michael Hookman also spoke during last night’s vigil. He says he got the opportunity to get treatment and took it seriously.

“A lot of people didn’t get that chance, you know. Most of the addicts that are out there using today, they don’t want to be addicted. They don’t know that there’s ways out there to get help. They don’t know that there’s people out there that actually care about them, because as a community a lot of us look down at addicts. We don’t give them the time of day because we think it’s a lost cause, and it’s not.”

Hookman says he thinks more clearly since he’s been in recovery and adds he’s trying to reach out to younger addicts.

“I like going home and seeing my kids’ smiling faces. You know I wouldn’t have seen that if I was in prison for nine years, and I got the opportunity to do that. I truly believe if I didn’t get arrested and go to jail and get that opportunity to go to rehab, I’d be another cross.”

Rev. Joseph Cunningham from St. Peter Lutheran Church in North Judson led the crowd in prayer, after which 61 candles were lit in honor of the 61 lives lost to drug addiction.

8/30/2015 Overdose Awareness Day Event Planned in Starke County

Published: August 7, 2015 By: Mary Perren, WKVI

The ribbons on the lawn at IU Health Starke Hospital represent local victims of overdoses over the past seven years.

Starke County holds the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of average accidental poisoning by exposure to drugs, medications and biological substances in 2009 and 2010. That’s according to mortality data from the Indiana State Department of Health. Local leaders are working to raise awareness of the problem. They’ve placed 61 ribbons on the lawn at IU Health Starke Hospital – one for each of the lives lost to drug overdose over the past seven years. Moving Starke County Forward, Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County, Porter-Starke Services and IU Health Starke Hospital are also hosting an overdose awareness event later this month. It will take place on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. at Wythogan Park in Knox. That’s International Overdose Awareness Day.

Thousands of people worldwide will stand alongside friends and family members of fatal overdose victims to reflect on the lives lost. Organizers say no one should feel shame or disgrace over a drug overdose. The local event will include a candlelight vigil, education and information about an opiate antagonist used for the complete or partial recovery from a drug overdose and testimony from a community member in recovery.

The event will give all who have been affected a chance to publicly mourn and help the community understand how fatal overdose profoundly affects mainstream society. The day also serves as a warning that all drugs can be dangerous and no one is immune to overdose. Family and friends are encouraged to attend and bring a photo to honor their loved one. Tributes may also be submitted in advance through the Moving Starke County Forward Facebook page or via email atakochar@porterstarke.org. They will be shared at the event.