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Writer's picturekarenmrubinstein

International Overdose Day - 8/31/2021

Updated: Apr 10, 2023



I volunteer at CARES - Center for Addiction Recovery Education & Success and the parent organization of PIK - Prevention is Key -- both in Morris County, NJ. Lately I've become the "Cricut Lady" and usually spend a good part of my volunteering cutting vinyl on the center's Cricut machine and applying it to mugs, socks and coasters for our CARE packages!

Doing my small part :)


I also try to find other ways to contribute and the past couple of weekends afforded me the opportunity to lend a hand -- at last week's Hope One/CARES community reach-out with Narcan kits -- and the other day at the butterfly release recognizing the campaign of International Overdose Awareness Day.



CARES and PIK Table at the Butterfly Release Ceremony August 28, 2021 in Rockaway, NJ

I had a friend from my recovery house die of an overdose a few months ago so this was a special and poignant event for me. It was well attended by friends and families of the about 40-50 people who have died since PIK and CARES started doing this three years ago.

I watched as a Morris County NJ Sheriff and a PIK employee carried two boxes filled with about 50 butterflies to the center of our group and lift the tops to release. A few flew out but most remained inside and the two volunteers had to nudge and encourage the others who were either frightened or weak.

A sort of analogy in the making ...

None of us in addiction can recover alone. We need help -- a little nudge, a little encouragement

-- for those times we don't feel strong or when we're frightened.

Most of the butterflies eventually made it out of the boxes and flew to freedom and new lives.







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