Denton County proclaims Aug. 31 North Texas Overdose Awareness Day

DENTON, Texas — The Denton County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a proclamation on Aug. 19 designating Aug. 31 as North Texas Overdose Awareness Day and encouraged residents to attend the remembrance and resource event on the Denton Courthouse lawn.

Sharon Roland, whose family has hosted the local awareness event since 2018 after the death of her son Randy, told the court the event drew more than 500 attendees last year and invited the community to the 6:30 p.m. gathering on Aug. 31. “Our family has hosted North Texas Overdose Awareness Day since 2018 after the death of my youngest son, Randy, from an overdose,” Roland said.

County officials said the proclamation aims to reduce stigma, promote harm reduction and connect people to resources. The court’s proclamation cites national data and public-health interventions, saying preliminary CDC data show a decline in overdose deaths in 2024 and crediting increased use of medications for opioid use disorder, awareness efforts and broader availability of opioid antagonists.

Commissioners briefly praised Roland’s advocacy. Commissioner Williams said, “If you can save one individual, then you've done a heck of a job,” and the court then approved the proclamation by voice vote.

The proclamation text, read on the record, calls for remembrance and education and urges Denton County residents to recognize those affected by substance use disorder and overdose. The event on Aug. 31 will be held on the Denton Courthouse square lawn; organizers and county staff encouraged attendees to consult local event postings for details.

Sharon Roland and representatives of the North Texas Overdose Awareness Day team attended the meeting for the proclamation presentation.