Proclamation for International Overdose Awareness Day signed

Officials with the City of Sallisaw gathered Wednesday afternoon on the lawn of the Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library, along with members of the Sallisaw NOW Coalition, Sequoyah County Sheriff Larry Lane, Sallisaw Police Chief Terry Franklin and other law enforcement officers, to sign a proclamation in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day.

The proclamation, signed by Sallisaw Mayor Ernie Martens and Deputy City Clerk Lisa Gabbert states, “Whereas, each week an average of 94 Oklahomans are hospitalized for drug overdose, and an average of 12 Oklahomans die of unintentional drug overdose.

“Whereas, Opioids and Methamphetamines are two of the largest contributors to the drug overdose deaths in Sequoyah County.

“Whereas, our own Sequoyah County has held the rank of 20th highest death rate in the state for drug overdose, with four out of five of the cases having a history of drug abuse, and one in five having a history of mental illness.

“Now therefore, I, Ernie Martens, Mayor of the City of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, do hereby claim Wednesday, August 31, 2022, as International Overdose Awareness Day in the City of Sallisaw, and ask our citizens to encourage the promotion of drug prevention and mental health awareness to help contribute to the ending of drug overdose, and to familiarize themselves with the signs of drug overdose to prevent tragedy from happening.”

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, International Overdose Awareness Day is the world‚s largest annual campaign to end overdose and remember those who have died without stigma and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.

The campaign raises awareness of overdose, which is one of the world‚s worst public health crises, and stimulates action and discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy.