Thursday evening, Aug. 31, dozens of people gathered on the Pettis County Courthouse steps to remember friends and loved ones lost to drug overdose.
“International Overdose Awareness Day is Aug. 31 of every year,” said Amber Woolery, Director of Outpatient Services at Recovery Lighthouse in Sedalia. “All across the world, people get together and host events to commemorate and remember those that we've lost to addiction and overdose.”
Recovery Lighthouse offers services to help those fighting addiction and have a front-row seat to the devastation caused by overdose.
“Especially with fentanyl coming into the community, it's definitely gotten worse,” Woolery said. “Fentanyl is probably the worst thing that's hit our community in decades. Nobody's safe from it, it's not something they're just cutting meth with. Now they're sprinkling it on marijuana, they're adding it to vape pens or deconstructing pills and pressing it back in there and not telling people. It takes an amount about the size of a grain of rice to kill you and you can overdose from just touching it.”
Speakers took the podium to recount stories of addiction, loss, and recovery. Candles were lit to remember those passed, and a vigil proceeded to City Hall and back.
“We had a speaker earlier, Chelsea,” Woolery recalled. “One of the things she said was, you know, she didn't wake up saying that she wanted to be an addict and use drugs. Nobody ever says that. There's something going on in your life and you're looking for something to make you better. Maybe you don't know how to reach out to people, maybe you don't have anybody to reach out to and somebody tells you like, this is going to make you feel better.”
Those dying are fathers, brothers, sons and mothers, people whose loss will be forever felt. Sedalia Mayor Andrew Dawson, Pettis County Presiding Commissioner Bill Taylor, Western Commissioner Jim Marcum and Sedalia Police Chief Matthew Wirt offered support and sympathy to the families affected by overdose.
“It affects not only their family but all their friends and the people around them,” Wirt said. “This is a night to recognize that and hope it changes people's lives. It was very impressive hearing the speakers and their stories, and I hope people take it to heart.”
Chris Traffanstedt spoke with the audience and told them of the great resources available.
“The good news, at least in Pettis County, is we have a lot of different organizations that are going out of their way to help people,” Traffenstedt said. “It's one of the best counties in Missouri for help. As a chaplain for Tyson Foods, I've been able to tap into a lot of resources here in the community as far as the different nonprofit organizations and I know they are always going out of their way to help.”
Like many at the event, Traffenstedt said the first step is the hardest – reaching out for help – but it can save their life.
“If they’re ever in a situation where they're hurting, where they're in a place where they feel like they don't have the answers they're looking for,” Traffenstedt added, “reach out because we have plenty of opportunities and plenty of places they can find the help they're looking for.”
“The movement is huge now and just more people becoming aware of overdose and addiction,” Woolery said. “We have so many resources, so many inpatient/outpatient detoxes, there's somebody that cares. We're seeing a big movement of peer specialists coming into our communities and we're huge on that as well. People in long-term recovery ready to help other people find that sobriety.”
Dawn Williams and Erica Elliot with the Pettis County Health Center had a table offering lots of resources for people who are suffering with addiction.
“They can walk into our office any time,” Williams said. “We have Narcan available, no questions asked, we give those out. Erica is a health educator there, I'm the mental health coordinator. We have lots of resources, so they can come in and let them know at the front desk what they're looking for, what help they need. We also do the Pettis County Mental Health Coalition every month, the second Tuesday of the month at 1 p.m. at the Katy Trail new building at 305 W. Main.”
Distraught mother Tina Powen was at the memorial, sobbing as she approached a display of victims of overdose. One photo of a smiling young man among the dozens of victims was the reason for her inconsolable sorrow.
“My son…Dakota Bradley,” Tina Powen gets out between tears.
“Dec. 27,” father Patrick Powen offered. “He was a good man, he just got caught up in a trap he couldn’t get out of.”
The grieving father offered the only advice he had.
“Family support, man,” Patrick said. “Need to step up and not give up on their people. There are a lot of 'could of been’s.'”
The Powens do feel some small comfort in the gathering of people also missing loved ones.
“Just to see all the people who have gone through the same thing,” Patrick said.
How does a mother deal with the loss of a son to overdose?
"Just give it to God,” Tina said, wiping her eyes, “because you can’t do it alone."
For more information about the Pettis County Health Center, 911 E. 16th St. in Sedalia, call 660-827-1130 or visit pettiscountyhealthcenter.com. For more information about Recovery Lighthouse, 910 W. Main St. in Sedalia, call 660-827-4357 or visit recoverylighthouse.org.
Chris Howell can be reached at 660-530-0146.
