JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville Beach recognized International Overdose Awareness Day on Sunday with the second annual Beaches Memorial Walk.
The event at the Seawalk Pavilion, running from 9 a.m. until noon, comes as Florida faces staggering overdose numbers, with state Emergency Medical Services responding to nearly 83,000 overdose calls last year alone.
The rain did not dampen the opportunity to provide information to raise awareness about the opioid epidemic and remember those affected.
TJ Ward from Project Opioid emphasizes the widespread impact of the crisis, particularly regarding fentanyl.
“It’s impacting every demographic. Every race, every ethnicity, every socioeconomic category. Male, female. It does not discriminate,” Ward said. “Fentanyl has changed the game when it comes to illicit drugs. Every drug is lethal at this point because of fentanyl.”
The walk offered multiple opportunities for community involvement and education with free Narcan samples, educational resources and training.
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