YAKIMA, Wash. – Triumph Treatment hosted its ninth annual Overdose Awareness Day event, as Yakima County grapples with a rise in overdose deaths. The city recently proclaimed August 29 as Yakima’s official Overdose Awareness Day, with deaths jumping from 96 to 146 between 2023 and 2024.
The event, held at Sarg Hubbard Park, offered support groups, resources, and a sense of community. It was a place for those struggling with use disorder to find hope and for families to find comfort in their grief. Kristin Anglin, a substance use professional at Triumph Treatment Services, emphasized the event’s significance.
“People who are still suffering can find hope that there is a different and better life. And also, maybe more importantly, it’s an opportunity for the family members who maybe didn’t know that access to comfort through their grief process and find healing through community,” she said.
“Inclusivity, support, and awareness. Just one person helping another person to improve their quality of life,” said Jaime Barajas.
Barajas is the chairperson with Yakima Recovery Events, shared his personal journey.
“I myself have suffered from overdose, accidental overdose, and I’m a survivor of that. And I was brought back to life through Narcan and the response of our EMT here in the Valley,” he said.
Barajas, approaching five years of sobriety, emphasized the importance of family support in recovery.
“When we talk about recovery, one recovery addict helping another is without parallel. So helping the person at those beginning stages is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever had the honor of doing,” Barajas said.
Shawna Estep, Director of the Substance Use Program at Triumph, highlighted the global need for such events.
“The world right now is struggling with addiction and access to services. And through having events like this, especially in communities around the world, it brings that awareness and makes it okay for people who are struggling with addiction to come forward and easily find the resources that they’re looking for,” she stated.
International Awareness Week will conclude on Sunday, August 31st.
