26 Aug 2024 5th annual event planned Aug. 31st in observance of International Overdose Awareness Day

LITTLE ROCK — Hope Movement Coalition, along with CWC Alliance, is encouraging Arkansans to observe International Overdose Awareness Day, a time to remember those we have lost to drug overdose and Fentanyl poisoning, with its 5th Annual Bridge the Gap event on Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Riverfront Park in North Little Rock. 

Individuals who have lost someone to an illicit drug death, along with individuals in recovery, law enforcement and community leaders, will come together to stand united to pay tribute to the lives lost and to share the hope of recovery as the bridges of Little Rock are lit purple at sunset. The event begins at 5:00 pm and will include guest speakers, food trucks, community vendors and a memorial service at sundown. 

“Events like this remind us that we’re not alone. Last year’s event saw 1,000 people from 11 states in attendance,” said Staci James, executive director at Hope Movement Coalition. “We invite anyone who the drug epidemic has touched in any way to come out and take a stand against stigma with us.” 

International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held on August 31st each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and Fentanyl Poisoning and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends, remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury because of drug overdose while spreading the message that illicit drug deaths are preventable. These deaths have skyrocketed in recent years. Provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates there were an estimated 107,543 drug-related deaths in the United States during 2023. In Arkansas, 510 families lost a loved one. 

ABOUT HOPE MOVEMENT COALITION 

The Hope Movement Coalition was created to provide comfort and resources through the difficult times of traumatic grieving for those who have experienced a loss due to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) or fentanyl poisoning. Through a specialized support system for all 75 counties in the state of Arkansas, Hope Movement Coalition unites those impacted by such losses to share experiences and help each other heal from pain in order to find hope again. For more information and resources, visit HopeMovementCoalition.com.