Hymn for the Dying –

Sept. 2, 2020 – “Every single life lost to an overdose is a tragedy made all the more heartbreaking with the knowledge that many of those deaths could have been prevented if more people had a better understanding of this serious issue,” Verrelli and Benson said Monday in a joint statement. “The purpose of designating an Overdose Awareness Day in New Jersey is to ensure our participation in an existing international effort to prompt more discussions about overdose prevention and allow families to share the grief many feel they cannot outwardly express because of the stigma surrounding their loved one’s death.”

In certain parts of the world, Aug. 31 is regarded as International Overdose Awareness Day, a global campaign spearheaded by Australian public health advocates.

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