Hardin County raises awareness to the overdose problem and how people can get help

KENTON, OHIO (WLIO) - One county is coming together to raise awareness about drug overdoses and let residents know there is help available.

The Kenton Hardin Health Department, PVFF-PASS, Lighthouse Behavioral Health Solutions, Family Resource Center, and Wings Support & Recovery partnered up for the event to spread the message to end overdoses. They also had an empty chair campaign to represent the lives lost to drug overdoses in Hardin County. In the first half of 2024, there's has been 6 overdose deaths, and health officials and addiction professionals want the public to know there is help available to help those who are battling a drug problem. 

“6 overdose deaths may not be that tremendous a number for some counties, but for our county that is significant. We know for every overdose death, there are other people who overdose who don't pass away, and we know that there are more people involved with addiction. So, this kind of event, coming together with our partners, helps us to raise that awareness. Hopefully a lot of people will come by and understand that we care about people that have these kind of issues," says Kevin Risner, Emergency Response Coordinator, Kenton Hardin Health Department.

Health officials continue to watch other parts of the state to see the rise of drug-related problems that are coming to Hardin County. 

"Things that happen in the Dayton area, and we watch it move up the freeway towards Lima and Hardin County. So, we can kind of watch what was happening in Dayton to see it was coming our way. It's still the case; the freeway is still the roadway for drug traffic. And so we know it's coming our way, even if it's somewhere else not too far away," says Risner.

The Kenton Hardin Health Department also made Narcan and fentanyl strips available for people to take to help prevent more overdose deaths.