MORRIS PLAINS BOROUGH, N.J. (Morris County) — Morris County will host its sixth annual Overdose Awareness Day ceremony at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, at One Medical Drive in Morris Plains.
The public is invited to attend the event, which will honor families who have lost loved ones to substance use or fentanyl poisoning. Those families may arrive at 9:15 a.m. to view memorial name banners prior to the ceremony. The program will feature remarks from county and state officials, guest speakers, service providers, and nonprofit partners.
Organized by the Morris County Division of Community and Behavioral Health Services, the ceremony is held in collaboration with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and its Hope One mobile services unit, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, and various community partners. The goal is to raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding the opioid and fentanyl crisis.
In 2020, State Sen. Anthony Bucco sponsored legislation signed into law designating Aug. 31 as Overdose Awareness Day in New Jersey. The Morris County Board of County Commissioners adopted its own resolution that July to join the observance.
Officials say the annual ceremony serves as a solemn reminder of the ongoing fight against substance addiction and the need for continued community support.
