Overdose Awareness Day – August 29 from 1-3p.m. in Occidental Square
Join us on Friday, August 29, from 1–3 p.m. at Occidental Square for International Overdose Awareness and Remembrance Day — an event centered on healing, connection, and honoring lives lost to accidental drug poisoning.
DESC is partnering with International Overdose Awareness Day, Evergreen Treatment Services, HEP Project, King County Downtown Public Health, and more to create a space to remember those we’ve lost to accidental drug poisoning. The space will also be for celebrating survivors and highlighting the urgent need for compassion and care for people who use substances.
“This event is a space for healing and visibility,” said Lupe Hurtado, peer specialist with DESC’s Opioid Treatment Network (OTN) team. “We honor the lives impacted by overdose by centering the voices of our community, embracing harm reduction, and dismantling stigma.”
“It’s also a reminder that as a community, we continue to show up for each other, even when the world feels heavy. It’s more important than ever to create spaces rooted in compassion, solidarity, and inclusion.”
This gathering will include:
- A memorial installation
- Personal stories
- Access to health and wellness kits (free naloxone kits, overdose response training, and resources for treatment and recovery)
- Light refreshments and snacks
Attendees can also learn about DESC’s upcoming ORCA Center and Downtown Behavioral Health Clinic. All are welcome — especially those with lived experience, unhoused neighbors, and anyone working toward a more supportive and informed community.
If you’re interested in tabling, volunteering, or otherwise participating in this event, contact Lupe Hurtado at lhurtado@desc.org.