A group of Sumner County public and private health organizations will host a vital community resource fair in observance of International Overdose Awareness Day on Friday, August 29, 2025, at the newly renovated Volunteer Behavioral Health (VBH) Gallatin location, 510 E. Main Street, Gallatin, TN 37066. The event will run from 1 pm to 3 pm and is open to the public.

International Overdose Awareness Day, recognized globally on August 31st, is a crucial campaign aimed at raising awareness about overdose, reducing the stigma of drug-related deaths, and acknowledging the profound grief experienced by families and friends affected by overdose. It is a time to remember those lost and renew our collective commitment to preventing further tragedies.

The United States continues to grapple with a severe opioid epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 105,000 people in the United States fatally overdosed in 2023, with nearly 80,000 of those deaths involving opioids. Tennessee has been particularly hard-hit, with approximately 70,000 Tennesseans addicted to opioids. From the 3,826 Tennesseans who died from drug overdose in 2022, over 80% of those were attributed to opioids, based on figures from the Tennessee Department of Health. This crisis underscores the urgent need for accessible resources and community support.

This community resource fair will serve as a platform to connect individuals, families, and community caregivers with the vast array of available resources within the recovery ecosystem. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about:

· Evidence-based treatment options for substance use disorder

· Local support groups and peer recovery services

· Naloxone distribution and overdose prevention training

· Mental health services and co-occurring disorder treatment

· Harm reduction strategies

· Family support and educational programs

"The opioid epidemic has devastated countless lives and families in our community and across the nation," says Justin Werlick, Substance Use Navigator for Highpoint Health with Ascension Saint Thomas. "International Overdose Awareness Day is a somber reminder of the lives lost, but it's also a call to action. We invite everyone – especially community caregivers and those connected to individuals struggling with substance use – to attend this resource fair. It's a vital opportunity to learn about the comprehensive support available and to become part of the solution in building a stronger, healthier community."

Event Details:

· What: International Overdose Awareness Day Community Resource Fair

· When: Friday, August 29, 2025, from 1pm to 3pm

· Where: Volunteer Behavioral Health, 510 E. Main Street, Gallatin, TN 37066

· Cost: Free and open to the public

This event is organized by Volunteer Behavioral Health, in partnership with the Sumner County Prevention Coalition. Together with Highpoint Health and the Sumner County Health Department, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Communications Center, and the County Finance Department, these organizations are working toward reducing the negative impact of opioids in Sumner County through a collaborative project supported by the opioid settlement funds allocated to Sumner County. The project provides the substance use navigator position at Highpoint Health, the assembly and distribution of “Boxes of Hope” containing recovery resources, treatment options for individuals with limited resources, as well as community-available Naloxone that is available 24/7 in the new Naloxone vending machine outside of the VBH Gallatin office.

About Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System

Volunteer Behavioral Health is a licensed and accredited community behavioral health care organization serving individuals with mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders across the Middle, Southeast, and Upper Cumberland regions of Tennessee. Through outpatient centers and community-embedded partnerships, VBH offers a range of services including medication management, therapy, and care management for adults, youth and children. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to VBH at 1.877.567.6051 or visit VolunteerBehavioralHealth.org. For free and confidential crisis support, call or text 988 at any time.

About Highpoint Health with Ascension Saint Thomas

Highpoint Health is a regional health system dedicated to making communities healthier in Middle Tennessee. It is composed of Highpoint Health – Sumner, a 167-bed hospital in Gallatin; the Highpoint Health – Sumner Station campus in Gallatin; Highpoint Health – Riverview, a 35-bed critical access hospital in Carthage; Highpoint Health – Trousdale, a 25-bed critical access hospital in Hartsville; and in March 2025, Highpoint Health – Winchester and Sewanee (jointly 198 acute and skilled care beds) joined the system as well. Highpoint Health is operated as part of a joint venture between Lifepoint Health and Ascension Saint Thomas. This collaboration brings together the organizations’ clinical excellence, best practices, and talented caregivers to collaborate in new ways that improve access to high quality clinical programs and specialty care for patients and communities. To learn more, visit HighpointHealthSystem.com.