International Overdose Awareness Day proclaimed in Sallisaw

A proclamation declaring International Overdose Awareness Day was signed on Aug. 31 by Sallisaw Mayor Ernie Martens with members of the Sallisaw NOW Coalition and other local agencies and supporters in attendance. According to the proclamation, 94 Oklahomans are hospitalized for drug overdose and an average of 12 Oklahomans die of “unintentional” drug overdose. Opioids and methamphetamine are two of the largest contributors to the drug overdose deaths in Sequoyah County with the county ranked 20th for the highest death rates. Four out of five cases have a history of drug abuse, and one in five have a history of mental illness. In addition to the proclamation, members of Sallisaw NOW coalition set up an information table along with other agencies in front of Stanley Tubbs Memorial Library on Friday to hand out pamphlets and other items.