Root Center International Overdose Awareness Day Remembrance Ceremony

September 1st, 2026

International Overdose Awareness Day is recognized yearly on August 31st.


This year, the Root Center for Advanced Recovery hosted our Annual International Overdose Awareness Day Remembrance Ceremony in our Manchester Memorial Garden.


In 2023, the Department of Public Health reported that there were 1,343 confirmed overdose deaths. That was 121 fewer deaths than the year prior, and yet that number is still staggeringly high. 


Every year, during Overdose Awareness Week, Root invites the community to join us as we come together to honor and remember those lost to overdose, and support those still struggling.


The event was held in our Memorial Garden, we began with some brief remarks from Root Leadership, Community Leaders, and also heard from a Root Center patient.


Directly following these remarks, we had a planting ceremony. This is a tradition we started in 2023, where for International Overdose Awareness Day, we add a new plant to the Memorial Garden. This year, our new addition to the garden was voted on by our social media followers. We are thrilled to announce that the Butterfly Bush won by an astounding margin! It looks great in the garden.

Pictured above (L to R, top to bottom):

Saud Anwar, State Senator / Jay Moran, Manchester Mayor / Steven Zuckerman, Root Center CEO & President / Bruce Simons, Root Center Board President alongside the new butterfly bush!


Another new addition this year was a handmade wooden box that was gifted to us by a patient celebrating one year of sobriety. Inside the box there were pieces of paper and pens for individuals to write messages on and leave in the cracks of our Remembrance Wall at the back of our garden. This box is on display from 8/23-9/3, and is welcome to all who may want to leave a message in the wall. It can be anything, a prayer, a wish, a sentiment… we are looking to fill the wall with love and memories.

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After our ceremony, we distributed free Narcan and fentanyl drug testing strips and offered important education on usage and benefits, which we know can save lives. We also had one of our harm reduction “Rovers” on-site to offer other important items that help others stay safe.


For the second year in a row, we also partnered with InterCommunity Health Care to offer a mobile vaccine clinic on-site. This mobile clinic was able to provide primary care, screenings, COVID vaccines, and more, to any who were interested. We know physical health and mental health are equally important, so we appreciated being able to offer this to attendees!

 

This event is always intended to honor the far too many lives that we have lost to the disease of addiction, and also to raise awareness, promote education, and help the public take advantage of the lifesaving and preventative services.

 

If you missed it this year, check out the video recap below, and join us next year.


In the meantime, we invite you to stop by our Memorial Garden: 335 Broad Street in Manchester, Ct. Remember, you are never alone.

Root Center would also like to extend a special thanks to our political supporters who spoke at our Remembrance Ceremony. We appreciate these individuals for all of their support to our agency and missions.

Pictured above (L to R, top to bottom):

Manchester Mayor, Jay Moran / State Senator Saud Anwar / State Representative Geoffrey Luxenberg, and State Senator, MD Rahman.


Senator Saud Anwar also gifted Root a proclamation from President Joe Biden in honor of Overdose Awareness Week. We are honored to now put this on display in our facility. 

Last but not least, thank you to our media partners, FOX61 News and WFSB CH3, who included Root Center in their coverage of International Overdose Awareness Day. We appreciate their support in spreading awareness and also honoring the lives lost.

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Reflecting on International Overdose Awareness Day Remembrance Ceremony 2026

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Honoring Lives Lost, Supporting Recovery, and Renewing Hope The Memorial Garden was filled with reflection, connection, and hope as community members gathered for Root Center for Advanced Recovery's annual International Overdose Awareness Day Remembrance Ceremony on August 31.  Each year, this event brings together patients, families, staff, community partners, and local leaders to honor the lives lost to overdose and support those who continue to navigate substance use disorder and recovery. Through shared stories, meaningful traditions, and moments of remembrance, attendees were reminded that behind every loss is a person who mattered deeply and behind every recovery journey is hope for the future.

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Each year, International Overdose Awareness Day offers an opportunity to remember the lives lost to overdose, support those who are still struggling, and come together as a community to recognize that recovery is possible. On Monday, August 31, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. , Root Center for Advanced Recovery will host its annual International Overdose Awareness Day Remembrance Ceremony at the Manchester Root Center Clinic, 335 Broad Street in Manchester . Held in Root Center’s Memorial Garden, the ceremony brings together patients, families, staff, community partners, elected officials, and members of the public for a meaningful morning of remembrance, reflection, hope, and connection. Remembering Those We Have Lost A centerpiece of the ceremony is Root Center’s Remembrance Wall , where attendees are invited to write messages honoring loved ones lost to overdose. Paper and pens will be available for anyone who would like to leave a message in the wall. During the ceremony, Root Center will also hold a ceremonial burning of notes left at last year’s event, creating a powerful moment of reflection and remembrance. This year, TriCircle will join Root Center and display its memorial quilts , which share the names and faces of loved ones whose lives have been lost. The quilts serve as a deeply personal reminder that behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a story that matters. The event will also include Root Center’s annual ceremonial planting in the Memorial Garden , symbolizing remembrance, growth, and hope for the future. Voices From Our Community Community leaders, legislators, Root Center staff, and patients will share remarks throughout the ceremony, offering perspectives on overdose, recovery, treatment, and the importance of continuing to support individuals and families impacted by substance use. The ceremony is designed not only to remember those we have lost, but also to stand alongside those who are currently navigating substance use, treatment, and recovery. Health, Harm Reduction and Community Resources In addition to the remembrance ceremony, attendees will have access to important health and community resources. Wheeler Health will be on site with its mobile unit, offering blood pressure checks, glucose checks, basic CPR training, and community outreach resources . Root Center will also provide free Narcan (naloxone) and fentanyl testing strips . These harm-reduction tools can help prevent overdose deaths and provide individuals, families, and community members with resources that can save lives. Join Us on August 31 International Overdose Awareness Day reminds us that no one should have to navigate addiction, loss, or recovery alone. By gathering together, we can honor those we have lost, support those who are still struggling, reduce stigma, and continue working toward a future with fewer lives lost to overdose. The International Overdose Awareness Day Remembrance Ceremony is open to the public , and all are welcome to attend. Event Details Monday, August 31, 2026 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Root Center for Advanced Recovery – Manchester Clinic 335 Broad Street, Manchester, CT 06040 Light refreshments will be served. We hope you will join us for this special morning of remembrance, connection, and hope.
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