More than 200 people marched down Main Street in Waynesville on Sunday, May 16, for the First Annual Drug Awareness Walk, which was organized by the SHARE Project (Spreading Hope and Awareness and Removing the Epidemic Stigma). People shared their stories, some who were in long-term substance abuse recoveries and others who had lost loved ones to drug addiction and overdoses. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff) Facebook Share Icon Twitter Share Icon Email Share Icon WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) —
Nearly 200 people came together last Sunday to march in memory of those lost to addiction. The event, which also called attention to services offered and featured several speeches from those touched by addiction, was hosted by the SHARE Project.
Based in Waynesville, the SHARE Project set out 222 illuminated jars on the steps of the Haywood County Courthouse on Tuesday night to remember, honor and respect all the lives lost to opioid overdoses. That’s how many lives are lost each day around the U.S., and the display was set up as part of International Overdose Awareness Day.
Just wanted to say thank you for putting together the event last week.
The thousands of smiling faces displayed on the Haywood Historic Courthouse lawn Monday were a stark reminder of the toll substance abuse has exacted in the nation. The age range of those on the 13 banners was mostly between 19 and 32, and they were just a fraction of the 200 lives lost to drug overdosed each day in the nation.
© 2023 The Share Project.