Putnam County proclaims Overdose Awareness Day and declares September recovery month observance

Putnam County commissioners on Aug. 26 read and signed two proclamations recognizing overdose awareness and declaring September 2025 as "Putnam County Goes Purple" for National Recovery Month.

Tasha, co-founder of Project Mayday, accepted a proclamation and urged the county to expand naloxone and test-strip distribution and to reduce stigma toward people who use drugs. "People who use drugs are human beings who deserve kindness and compassion. They deserve a second chance," she said.

James Roberts, who identified himself with the Boone County Quick Response Team, described outreach and support work for people in active addiction and told commissioners the team distributes naloxone, food and blankets and responds to overdose calls to link people with treatment.

The proclamation for Project Mayday cites national and state overdose statistics: it references a Centers for Disease Control estimate of more than 68,000 overdose deaths in the United States in 2023 and cites "more than 1,389 West Virginia residents who lost their lives to overdose in 2023." The proclamation also notes Putnam County recorded more than 14 overdose deaths in 2021 and a total of 124 deaths from 2015 through 2021.

Commissioners also issued the Putnam County Goes Purple proclamation, encouraging prevention, treatment and recovery resources and asking residents to observe the month with appropriate programs and purple displays.

The proclamations were signed by the county commission and County Clerk Brian Wood and were followed by brief remarks from advocates and a photo opportunity.