Clark County’s 10th Annual Overdose Awareness Day Honors Lives Lost and Calls for Continued Action
Community members gathered at Marshall Park in Vancouver on August 31 for Clark County’s 10th Annual Overdose Awareness Day, an event focused on remembrance, connection, healing, and action.
Held in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day, the annual event brings together families, friends, community members, service providers, and partner organizations to honor those whose lives have been lost to overdose and support those who continue to grieve.
This year’s event marked an important milestone for Clark County. Overdose Awareness Day has been held locally for 10 years, beginning with the work of Lyn Fortner, who found the event in memory of her 18-year-old son, Ryan Furness, and 17-year-old Devin Krugman.
Throughout the evening, memorial signs honoring loved ones lost to overdose were displayed around the park. Community members were invited to gather, reflect, share stories, and be together in a supportive space.
At 5 p.m., the event included a community update from Clark County Public Health, speakers, and family members sharing personal stories about loss, grief, prevention, and the continued need for community action.
Ashley Gaffney, SWACH’s Director of Community Health Improvement, spoke about the purpose of the day and the importance of honoring loved ones without stigma.
“Today we stand in solidarity with many others across the globe to observe International Overdose Awareness Day,” Gaffney said. “We remember loved ones lost to drug-related deaths without stigma, acknowledge the grief of family and friends, and mobilize action to end overdose.”
Gaffney also reflected on the broader meaning of the global observance.
“This global day of observance brings our communities together. We raise awareness, foster hope and healing, honor loved ones, and advocate for change,” Gaffney said. “You all being here is one step toward change.”
The event also highlighted the prevention and response work happening across Clark County and Southwest Washington. Over the years, local partners have worked to expand naloxone access, increase overdose prevention education, strengthen community partnerships, and support people and families impacted by substance use.
Nicole Hamberger, SWACH’s HealthConnect Network Manager, spoke about the strength of the region’s response and the many people and organizations working to reduce harm and save lives.
“When I take a bird’s-eye view of how our community in Southwest Washington has responded to this tragedy, I see a community that has risen to every possible opportunity to decrease harm and increase pathways to support,” Hamberger said.
That work includes making naloxone more widely available in the community.
“I see you all spreading the word and making naloxone more available and accessible through vending machines, 24-hour lock boxes, and countless other ways of getting this lifesaving medication into the hands of the people who need it,” Hamberger said. “I see you training your teams on how to recognize an overdose, administer naloxone, and respond to the person in front of them,” Hamberger said.
She also reflected on the collective effort that has grown across the region over the past decade.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with so many of you over the years, bringing people and organizations together, training staff to become naloxone trainers, helping naloxone be more available throughout our region, and working with schools to empower young people to recognize and respond to overdoses.”
For Hamberger, the work reflects a community that continues to choose action, compassion, and connection.
“When I look back at what this community has done, I see something extraordinary,” Hamberger said. “I see a community that did not accept that people had to die just because they used drugs.”
She also emphasized the importance of each opportunity to prevent a death.
“Every naloxone kit placed in someone’s hands is an opportunity,” Hamberger said.
This year’s Overdose Awareness Day was also covered by local media, including KOIN and The Columbian, helping bring broader attention to the families, community members, and partners working to end overdose in Clark County.
SWACH supports Overdose Awareness Day through Prevention Recovery Alliance Clark County, also known as PRACC. PRACC is a collective impact initiative made up of community members impacted by addiction and substance use, behavioral health organizations, service providers, and other partners committed to ending overdose and other drug-related deaths in Clark County.
As Clark County marks 10 years of Overdose Awareness Day, the event remains rooted in remembrance, compassion, and action. It is a space to honor loved ones, support those who are grieving, reduce stigma, and continue working toward a future where fewer families experience the loss of overdose.