Campaign Aims to Reduce Stigma of Addiction
September is National Recovery Month, and the city will hold several events as part of Rockville Goes Purple, a continuing campaign to shine a spotlight on the impact of opioid addiction and educate the community about the epidemic.
The theme of this year’s Rockville Goes Purple campaign is “Opioids: Let’s Talk About It,” which encourages dialogue about, and openness around, the problems of opioid addiction, and to create awareness about the dangers of stigmatizing addiction.
Several events have been planned to mark the month:
- From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, in the Rockville City Police Station parking lot at 2 W. Montgomery Ave., the Rockville City Police Department will collect leftover, unwanted or expired prescription drugs for safe disposal.
- A virtual training, 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, in use of the life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug, Narcan (sign up at www.surveymonkey.com/r/NarcanTraining1).
- A virtual Race 4 Recovery 5K on Saturday, Sept. 26, where participants will be invited to walk, bike or run a 5K course of their choosing.
- A Rockville 11 interview with Rona Kramer, secretary of the Maryland Department of Aging, who will answer questions from members of the Rockville Senior Center, that will air on channel 11 by the end of September and be available to view online.
- Journalist Beth Macy will take part in an online book discussion of her “New York Times” bestseller, “Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and the Drug Company that Addicted America,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. Read the book, then hear from Macy about the opioid crisis and lives it has affected.
- The city will partner with S.O.U.L. (Surviving Our Ultimate Loss) to co-sponsor the 5th Annual Montgomery County International Overdose Awareness Day. Until the end of the month, a display on Veterans Plaza at 101 Monroe St. will commemorate Montgomery County lives lost to overdoses.
- Purple lights will illuminate City Hall, the Rockville City Police Department headquarters and Town Center, in recognition of National Recovery Month.
Follow the City of Rockville on Facebook, Twitter and Nextdoor, and watch the city’s online calendar at www.rockvillemd.gov/calendar.aspx to find more details about the events as they develop.
See the Mayor and Council’s proclamation of September as National Recovery Month at www.youtube.com/cityofrockville.
To learn more about the Rockville Goes Purple campaign, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/rockvillegoespurple.