The Webster County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 12 accepted a proclamation recognizing Aug. 31, 2025, as International Overdose Awareness Day in Webster County and heard details about a community event planned for late August.

The North Central Iowa Opioid Task Force read the proclamation, which highlighted the campaign theme and the local coalition’s ongoing work to prevent overdoses and provide disposal options for unused medications. “And whereas the theme for 2025 is 1 big family driven by hope, we inspire for a community driven by hope, love, and action,” the proclamation text read.

Deb Bridal of the Webster County Health Department and Tia Hartzler of Community and Family Resources described year-round disposal locations for unwanted or expired prescription medications, including the county law enforcement center, local CVS and Hy-Vee pharmacies, and disposal packets available at the health department (DisposeRx). Bridal said an Overdose Awareness event will be held in the evening on Thursday, Aug. 28 (the nationally observed date, Aug. 31, falls on a Sunday this year). The event will be at the City Square from 5 to 7 p.m. and include speakers, tabling and food trucks.

Board members thanked the task force and said they appreciated the coalition’s work; no vote on the proclamation was recorded during the public comment sequence, but the board acknowledged and accepted the proclamation at the meeting.