Hamilton, NJ

Mercer County’s International Overdose Awareness Day event is hosted annually by Mercer Council on Alcoholism & Drug Addiction, a private nonprofit working to bring prevention education and recovery support to the Mercer County, NJ community. Our event aims to provide an opportunity for people to publicly mourn loved ones, to raise awareness about overdose and addiction, and to push for greater measures to combat this crisis through prevention, treatment, and education. We seek to remind the community that people who experience overdose are much more than that event in their lives, and to reduce the stigma surrounding the struggle with addiction and impact of overdose.

At our International Overdose Awareness Day event, guests can expect a community gathering that features a formal program with local leaders, family members and folks in recovery sharing their experiences with changing the narrative of addiction. A memorial table will be present, where loved ones may bring photos or mementos to remember loved ones who have passed away. There are family-friendly activities for children, like rock painting with members of the Youth Coalition of Mercer County. The evening ends with a Candlelight Vigil, offering a time for remembrance as event leaders share brief stories of hope in the midst of loss.