Palm Beach County Honors Overdose Awareness Day

Palm Beach County joined communities across the nation on August 31 in recognizing Overdose Awareness Day, honoring those whose lives have been impacted by overdose and addiction while shining a light on the hope, strength, and resilience found in recovery.

At the HUB Community Resource Center in Belle Glade, Palm Beach County Mayor Sara Baxter presented a proclamation officially declaring August 31 as Overdose Awareness Day in Palm Beach County.

Spearheaded by Palm Beach County's Community Services Department and hosted by the dedicated team at the HUB, the gathering began with prayer and set a reflective tone for a day centered on remembrance, healing, and hope.

The event featured several inspiring guest speakers, including Florida House Representative Meg Weinberger, Marcia Andrews of Palm Beach County School Board District 6, Belle Glade City Commissioner Tequilla Collins, and William Freeman, COE/Founder of People of Purpose. Speakers shared deeply personal stories of addiction, recovery, and resilience, reminding everyone that behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a community.

The gathering concluded with a candlelight vigil and a moment of silence to honor and remember those lost to overdose and addiction.

Overdose Awareness Day is both a time to remember and a call to action , to reduce stigma, support those seeking recovery, and remind individuals and families that help, hope, and healing are possible.

Through community-based resources such as the HUB Community Recovery Center and the Community Services Department's Behavioral Health & Substance Use Disorders Division, Palm Beach County remains committed to connecting residents with the support, resources, and services they need on their journey toward recovery.

Additional resources: https://www.pbchub.org/