Mental Health Board's 2nd annual Overdose Awareness Day event fighting addiction with education

LIMA, OH (WLIO) - Area non-profits and healthcare organizations banded together to prevent addiction and overdoses. For the second year, the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board held Overdose Awareness Day in downtown Lima.

People struggling with addiction often don't know what help is available to them, so the event brings as many organizations as possible to educate people about the local treatment options and support. Allen County Public Health also gave out free Naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose while someone waits for first responders to arrive. Behavioral health experts want people to know just how easy it is to accidentally take fentanyl and how that one mistake could be your last. 

"It takes a grain of salt. For example, a grain of salt of fentanyl can kill a person. If it's mixed into a pill or whatever and they don't know they're getting it, they will overdose," explained Kim Pellegrini, a representative for Spero Health's Nar-Anon support group.

This year's event was dedicated to the late Dr. Robert Wheeler, who advocated for compassion and empathy for those battling addiction. 

"He started the addiction treatment, offering suboxone and other addiction services to patients within St. Rita's Mercy Health in 2019. It was very close to his heart, dealing with some family members that had some addictions that they were dealing with as well. It was an honor to work with him. He's very missed, and he has made a huge impact in our community," said Jessica Maag, an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist with PASS. 

Last year, 222 Allen County residents were treated for drug overdoses in the emergency room or urgent care.