Event gives 'voice' to overdose awareness, promotes message of hope

Messages and songs of hope filled the Barnwell State Park community building.

The Axis I Center of Barnwell hosted Awareness at the Park to promote overdose awareness on August 10. Peer support specialists coordinated the event in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day, which is August 31.

“International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the profound grief felt by families and friends whose loved ones have died or suffered permanent injury from a drug overdose. The opioid epidemic is one of the world’s worst public health crises. The overdose awareness campaign creates a safe space for discussions on best practices to intervene and treat opioid use disorders and spread the message that drug overdose and death are preventable,” said Pamela Rush, executive director of the Axis I Center.
Data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention estimated that in 2022 108,000 lives were lost to opioid-related overdoses. By 2023, the number of fatal overdose deaths declined by 3 percent to 107,500; however, “much work is left to be done to end overdose deaths,” Rush said.

In 2022, Barnwell County had 23 fatal opioid-related overdose deaths. In 2023, this number dropped significantly to six fatal overdose deaths.

“While we are excited to see the number of fatal overdoses decline, we still grieve those who lost their lives due to overdose. A large majority of the fatal overdoses are due to synthetic fentanyl being manufactured in Mexico and shipped and sold in the United States,” said Rush.

The Axis I Center provides outpatient treatment services, Medication Assisted Treatment, Intensive Outpatient Program services, Peer Support services, and the distribution of Narcan and other harm-reduction resources to reduce the impact of opioid use disorders and overdoses. These services are available to anyone in the community.

The theme of the 2024 Overdose Awareness Day was “Together We Can.” As Rush explained, “Together we can prevent overdoses. No one should stand alone in the fight to end addiction and overdoses. Every individual’s life matters. We are stronger together as a community when we come together to address this issue.”

The Axis I Center of Barnwell is thankful for the community and the event's sponsors, including SRP Federal Credit Union, King Mackerel, Barnwell State Park, Plum Pretty, Barnwell Caribbean, Warhorse Motors, M&M Glass, Barnwell First Steps, Advanced Auto, Huddle House, Russell’s Pizza of Williston, and Chick-fil-A.

Kathy B. Witherspoon, deputy director/office manager at Axis I Center, added, “Addiction doesn’t choose age, race, religion, wealth, or status in society. I have a friend and a family member who lost their lives due to addiction, but I have seen what recovery looks like and I know the work that we do at Axis I Center is so important. Events like Overdose at the Park brings awareness and opportunities for people to ask questions.”

The Axis I Center thanks Dylan Carter, a contestant on The Voice, for providing entertainment. He is a native of South Carolina.

“Many may ask why we would have entertainment at an Overdose Awareness Event – personally, I was hoping Dylan would draw a larger crowd in order to make it easier to spread information and raise awareness. Dylan may not even be aware, but he created a welcoming and supportive atmosphere with his song choices. Little things like that help reduce stigma associated with addiction and provide a sense of community and hope. I know there were those in attendance who are still grieving over their loved one who lost their life to addiction but for a moment, the music began to be comforting and brought smiles and laughter. Music can be medicine for the soul,” said Witherspoon.

Carter said he was thankful for the invitation. He was also appreciative that Witherspoon’s daughter, Laney Fox, drove over four hours to support the event and see him perform.

“This event is underrated in my opinion. There needs to be more events bringing awareness to the dangers of addiction and overdose. Too many people have lost their lives to addiction and overdose, and people struggling need to know they are not alone,” said Carter.

Initially, he told Witherspoon he was unable to attend because he had previously scheduled another gig for the same day. Realizing the importance of the overdose awareness event, Carter started thinking he might be able to do both events.

“I knew how much it would mean to Mrs. Kathy for me to be there and I also knew that I needed to be there! So, I made it happen! I drove two hours there and arrived at 2 p.m., I sang from 2:30-3:30 and then I went back to Summerville! I didn’t get to stay for the whole event, but I’m so glad I chose to be there for part of it. I knew I had to be there at this event because the overdose and addiction community needs all the support they can get! I feel as though addiction and overdose is not talked about much and it is a problem that needs to be talked about! I am so glad I was able to shine a light on it, and hopefully I helped someone feel less alone while doing so!” Carter said.

Carter hopes to take his gift of singing “all around the world,” he said. “I want to be able to connect to people and make them feel something! I am leaning towards becoming a Christian artist and I cannot wait for everyone to hear my new song coming out later this year called ‘Born A Sinner’. I hope my music and my voice will continue to connect with people and make them feel heard and understood!”

Being heard and understood when it comes to addiction was expressed strongly with these sentiments from recovering addict Gabriel Ethridge, who was addicted to drugs for seven years, overdosed countless times, and “was saved around 50 times or more from Narcan. The Holy Spirit came to me and something changed. When I was in jail, I realized I was fighting between the spiritual and the world. On the spiritual side of things, when you start looking at it, drug addiction becomes more of a ‘How do you want to live? Do you want to be stuck in the world? It’s harsh and cruel and it doesn't play fair.”

He stressed, “It’s important that we keep running events like this because it helps inform the public how to help addicts overcome addiction and save lives. People are more equipped to know what to do if they see someone overdosed. I know I’ve been saved from overdose, and I wouldn’t be here without it. Drugs get you stuck in a loop. When you see the spiritual side of it, you can see outside of that and you’re able to overcome it. God’s the only one who can give us true understanding of things. I’d be clean then struggle and return to drugs, knowing I didn’t want to do that, go through those hardships. I struggled until I connected to the spirituality of life. Now I go to the AA group in Williston, Axis I meetings on Monday mornings and Church of Christ in Williston with my grandparents.”

He finished his thoughts by saying, “I think all addicts, when you come out on the other end, you’re supposed to take that experience and connect with people that are going through that hardship on a personal level. I try to connect with them, tell them I know it’s hard, but you’re doing good.”

Summer Padgett, one of Axis I’s peer support specialists, overdosed twice, did house arrest and is in recovery for five years now, said she “felt hopeless. I didn’t know where or which way to turn to go to get help, but I knew I wanted to change my life because I didn’t want the next time I overdosed to be the last time.”

Rebecca Mercer, who is four years sober, said she overdosed and “when my son and daughter helped save me, I knew I had to change. It only took one time and it’s the best decision I ever made.”

Karen Falcon, another peer support specialist at Axis I, celebrates five years of recovery. “Addiction can affect anyone, any age, economic group at any point in their life. I know this because I was older when my addiction began. It affected my attitude, relationships, my family and eventually, my career. I was very lucky that my family never gave up on me. It's so important to have family support. My family was a large factor and for some reason, that is why I got my act together. I want everyone to know that for those dealing with substance abuse, it’s so important to have family encouragement and support,” she said.

For Sara Johnson, she said, “Recovery came late in life. At the depths of my addiction, I lost everything. It’s never too late to get help, to suggest help to a loved one. You never know what words, deeds or gestures you may do that help someone change their life. My mother helped get me where I am now. God bless her.”

Courtney Barwick, a mother of four, did drugs though each pregnancy, she said. “It’s a disease, not a choice, and at that time I loved drugs more than my kids. I lost who I was and no one wanted to be around me. DSS got involved, but even then, I wasn’t ready to change. March 2021 I got arrested and I want to thank the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office for the start of my recovery and Axis I for the education of how to maintain my recovery. I’m a peer support specialist with Axis I now, helping others learn that change is possible.”

Recovery is possible.