Overdose Awarness Day: Chester County Hosts Night of Light Aug. 31

WEST CHESTER —Chester County Department of Human Services invites the public to a “Night of Light” program on International Drug Overdose Awareness Day to remember loved ones who lost their lives to substance abuse disorder.

The event is scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 31 on the steps outside of the historical Chester County Courthouse, 2 N. High St., West Chester.

Every year on Aug. 3, Chester County joins organizations around the world in encouraging residents, businesses and organizations to raise awareness of overdose, reduce the stigma surrounding overdoses and drug related deaths, remember the lives lost to overdose and acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends who have lost loved ones.

The goal of the program is to bring hope to those working toward long term recovery.

According to the Chester County coroner’s reports, this year a total of 38 individuals died as a result of overdoses.

In 2021, a total of 109 died of drug overdoses, and in 2020, 108 individuals died of overdoses.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is being mixed with other drugs, caused 70.6% of the overdoses in 2021 and 71,5% in 2020.

The Drug Enforcement Administration reported a large increase in sales of fentanyl in 2021 due to dangerous chemicals being mixed into illicit drugs.

Other drugs that were identified in toxicology tests of fatal overdoses were methamphetamine and Xylazine, an animal sedative. Alcohol was also detected in the overdoses.

For more information, contact Kate Genthert-Siolek via email.