Mega Doctor News
Pharr, TX – Behavioral Health Solutions is observing International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) in South Texas by holding a curbside informational event on Tuesday, August 31st at the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Stadium (703 E. Houston, Pharr, TX 78577) from 9:00am to 12:00pm. The aim of IOAD is to raise awareness, reduce the stigma of overdose-related deaths, remember those who have suffered because of overdose and stimulate discussion about overdose prevention and drug policy.
Held in collaboration with PSJA ISD, the event features information on local resources, samples of goods and services from our community partners, and goodies for families. Beatrice Sanchez, program coordinator for Parenting Awareness and Drug Risk Education Services (PADRES) urges people in South Texas to get involved in IOAD this year.
“If people want to help raise awareness and fight the stigma surrounding overdose, they can attend our event at PSJA stadium. Come along, bring your family and friends, and help achieve change in our community,” Sanchez says. “You can also show your support by using the hashtags #OverdoseAware and #EndOverdose on social media to boost awareness. Have the conversation with your friends and family and spread the message that overdose is a problem affecting every community including here in the Rio Grande Valley.”
Melissa Alviar, a community health worker with the PADRE program, also encourages people in her community to think differently about substance use disorders and encouraging users to seek treatment.
“Taking a hardline approach and treating drug use as moral failing or character flaw doesn’t help people at risk. We need to treat drug-related harm as a health issue and invest in proven practices that can save lives; no community should be left behind.”
The mission of Behavioral Health Solutions is to provide a multilevel approach inclusive of prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery to reduce substance abuse and related co-existing conditions in our communities, encourage healthier lifestyles related to at-risk public health behaviors, and promote stronger families.
For more information about PADRES program or Behavioral Health Solutions, or to become a volunteer, please visit our website at www.bhsst.org. You can also join our efforts through our social media at Facebook.com/bhsofsouthtexas, Twitter.com/bhsst, or Instagram.com/bhs_st.
