On Thursday, families gathered for a ceremony and vigil in Rockville to remember loved ones who died from overdose.
Aug. 31 was International Overdose Awareness Day. Last year, there were 135 overdose deaths in Montgomery County, according to Laura Mitchell, chair of the county’s Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Advisory Council.
Just last month, eight people died. There have been 316 non-fatal overdoses since January.
The seventh annual event also launched the “Montgomery Goes Purple” campaign for recovery month in September.
