YAKIMA, Wash. – Yakima City Council announced a new initiative to combat the overdose crisis by proclaiming August 29 as a citywide overdose awareness day.
This decision comes as part of efforts by Triumph Treatment Service, a local nonprofit, in collaboration with the City-County Health Department.
Currently, August 31 is recognized globally for overdose awareness. However, Yakima will now observe its own day on August 29 to align with Triumph’s annual overdose awareness event.
This event aims to connect the community with essential resources.
According to the Washington State Department of Health, Yakima County reported 146 overdose-related deaths. Kim Hitchcock, clinical director for the Inpatient Assistance Program, emphasized the broader impact of these tragedies, stating,
“It’s not just that person. It is affecting somebody’s family and those people are important, you know, or somebody’s mom, you know, their somebody’s loved one and they matter,” Hitchcock said.
Hitchcock further highlighted that opioid overdoses affect everyone, regardless of their demographics.
Triumph Treatment Service will host their annual event on August 29 at Sig Harbor Park to honor and remember those who have been lost to overdoses.
