Thurston County Board of Health proclaims Aug. 31 International Overdose Awareness Day; staff and resident urge expanded naloxone access

The Thurston County Board of Health proclaimed Aug. 31, 2025, as International Overdose Awareness Day during its Aug. 12 meeting and heard a pair of personal and programmatic reports on overdose prevention and response.

Katie Strosnick, the county’s opioid and overdose response program manager, told the board Washington County’s efforts have expanded naloxone availability "across our community," including distribution points at behavioral health agencies, housing providers and the syringe services program. She said staff recently installed a downtown Olympia naloxone vending machine accessible 24/7 and are deploying wall-mounted naloxone boxes to high-traffic and rural locations. Strosnick also described EMS programs that leave naloxone at the scene of nonfatal overdoses and offer buprenorphine in the field, with follow-up case management within 24–48 hours.

Resident Shani Jenkins gave a personal testimony about losing her son to a heroin-related overdose in 2017 and urged a public-health approach. "This is not a moral failing. It's a chronic disease," Jenkins said, and she asked the board to support compassionate, evidence-based care and public awareness.

Board members thanked the presenters and discussed outreach to communities and first responders. The board read a county proclamation calling for community participation in remembrance and outreach events, and staff said an International Overdose Awareness Day event is planned Aug. 27 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Heritage Park. Staff also said they will circulate a flyer with event details.

The presentation highlighted both harm-reduction measures (wider naloxone access and EMS leave-behind) and continuing efforts to expand treatment options and wraparound services across the county.