LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In observation of Overdose Awareness Day, members and supporters of VOCAL Kentucky demonstrated in downtown Louisville to honor those lost to drugs and alcohol. 

What You Need To Know

  • August 31 was Overdose Awareness Day

  • In Louisville VOCAL Kentucky honored those lost to overdose with a demonstration and march

  • The organization has called on the city of Louisville to better support harm reduction measures

  • Last year, more than 2,100 Kentuckians died from an overdose

“We (are) out here to celebrate the ones that we lost and trying to come up with creative ways to prevent further overdoses,” Boyd English, a leader with VOCAL Kentucky said.

The group gathered in Jefferson Square Park downtown, across the street from Metro Hall. Several speakers spoke to a crowd that packed the park, including many who shared their experiences of losing someone to a substance use disorder.  

Afterward, the group marched to the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections building where more speakers spoke. Then the group ended their rally with a march to the Muhammad Ali Center where former and current lawmakers also addressed the crowd.

English said other organizations at their gathering passed out information about recovery programs and harm reduction materials like the overdose reducing drug Narcan.

English stresses an overdose can happen to anybody. 

“All different walks of life. This has no race card, this is affecting everybody as a whole and since it’s affecting everybody as a whole, we suggest that we all come together and unify on this very thing,” English said.    

Among those in the crowd was James Watson. He has been sober for nearly 60 days.

James Watson entered recovery earlier this year. He is now nearly 90 days sober (Spectrum News 1/Mason Brighton)

“I just love being sober man now and just, it’s freeing pretty much,” Watson said.

Watson adds he has struggled with substance abuse disorder his entire life  — but recently says he was ready to make a change. He explains he attended this march to support others going through recovery. 

“When it comes to people with addiction, I just hope for the best for them because I know, I’ve been there. I’ve been homeless, I’ve slept in abandoned houses and stuff like that, I’ve done everything I could for my addiction an now I make a stand today to change that,” Waton said.

Watson’s message of support is echoed by so many of the people here who do not want to see another life lost to a preventable problem. 

VOCAL Kentucky also called on the city of Louisville to halt the continued clearing of homeless encampments. Earlier this year, the organization once again released a roadmap for the city to better support harm reduction measures.

The roadmap outlines four areas they’d like Louisville to better serve the community.

  • Expand access to harm reduction services, Naloxone and low barrier medication-assisted treatment for substance abuse. 
  • Expand access to emergency housing and end the clearing of homeless encampments. 
  • Commit to reducing the jail population to less than 1,000 people and expand non-police emergency response programs
  • Work to decrease overdose deaths and increase care for incarcerated people 

Data released earlier this year by the state found that in 2022 2,135 Kentuckians died from a drug overdose. In nearly three-fourths of those deaths, fentanyl was a factor in the person’s body.

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