SEBASTIAN — The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office will be hold a Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education candle light vigil later this month at Riverview Park in Sebastian to raise awareness of substance abuse.
Many lives have been destroyed by substance abuse and the disease of addiction. Too often, this disease is perceived as deserved and shameful, leaving families and friends to grieve in silence or an addict struggling to recover – alone. The NOPE Vigil, which will be held Oct. 28, strives to raise awareness and open the doors to recovery by eliminating the prejudice that has followed the disease of addiction; a disease that shows no prejudice to any walk of life or background.
With the removal of shame comes the hope for survival.
Acceptance of the disease can be humbling to the soul, and, in turn, empowering to those in need, to seek help.
Ultimately, by eliminating the prejudice, the tragic loss of life from drug and alcohol related deaths will diminish.
The memory of our children, our relatives and our friends, who have passed, will live on in our hearts, forever honored and memorialized.
May the dreams they had and the lives they lived be remembered always, and may each heart and soul they have touched, though forever changed, be healed.
The evening begins with a reception at 6 p.m. and a vigil at 7 p.m.
Riverview Park is located at 650 US 1, near County Road 512.
For more information, contact NOPE Task Force’s local chairman Deputy Roberta Barker at (772) 770-5028 or Lu Owens at (772) 633-9270.
