Overdose Awareness

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Muskingum County Commissioners met with local overdose awareness advocates to discuss plans for better promoting the subject.

Drug Free Muskingum Co-Founder Monica Batteiger and Laikyn’s Legacy of Hope Founder Jodi Niceswanger updated the commissioners on the work they’ve been doing in preparation of next month’s Overdose Awareness Day.

“We are having two events again,” Batteiger said. “August the 25th, we will have a community education and awareness event at the Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department. And then August 31st, we’ll have the Family Overdose Awareness event here with some speakers. We invite the entire community. It’s free, everything’s free. And the community as a whole, we hope that they can come out and support the families and support the resources and things of that nature.”

The Community Awareness and Family Fun Night will take place from 6-to-8 p.m. Monday, August 25th, at the health department and will feature plenty of fun, food, games and education. While the Afternoon of Remembrance event will take place 2 p.m. Sunday, August 31st, at the Muskingum County Courthouse will give friends and family members a chance to memorialize those who have passed from overdoses through the opportunity to decorate a commemorative paver. 

“I think our biggest message is hope,” Batteiger said. “Hope and healing, I think that is one of our biggest messages. And that we have to do this as a community. It takes a community to help those who have lost somebody to help those that maybe are still struggling. So, hope. I think hope is the biggest message.”

Drug Free Muskingum has a Facebook page, where you can learn more about overdose awareness and the efforts that are being made locally to support the victims who have been left to cope with the circumstances.