International Overdose Awareness Day 8/31/25

On August 31st of every year, the whole world stops to recognize those who have been lost due to overdose. To memorialize and honor those families who will have an empty chair at their holiday meals this upcoming season.

It is International Overdose Awareness Day. And each year, hundreds of thousands of men and women become part of the heartbreaking statistics.

The World Health Organization reports that in 2019, approximately 600,000 deaths were attributed to drug use. Of these, nearly 80% were related to opioids, and roughly 25% of the total deaths (or 150,000) were caused by opioid overdose alone.

That being said, here in Lorain County, the numbers are dropping drastically. Lorain County deaths beginning in 2019 were 174, dropping to 143 the following year. In 2021, the number was 147, dropping to 126 in 2022, then again dropping to 119 in 2023.

This year, we honored the 62 lives unnecessarily lost, but also celebrated the over 70 people in the room who had found recovery and were building significant lives in Christ.

What we’re doing is working!! And that is worth celebration!!

Through powerful testimonies, worship, and prayer, what we experienced on this night was a stirring up of hope and an encouragement to continue to fight for the lives of those in the room and also those who haven’t made it to the room yet.

“Let us not grow weary in doing good”

We are seeing results!! Moms and Dads are being restored and returned to their families as the Godly parents they were designed to be. Children are being reunited with healthy parents, and the family units are becoming strong, Godly families.

We’re seeing men and women identify the gifts, skills, and talents that were divinely given to them by their creator and step into purposeful callings that are on their lives. We are seeing prayer warriors and worshippers arise into their gifts. Preachers and teachers are beginning to develop their skill set.

The hope that is in Christ is continuing to transform lives as we witness miracles, signs, and wonders!

So we celebrate that hope and continue to share the Light of Christ in some of the darkest places.

Cathedral of Life’s, Raising HOPE service 8/31/25