Overdose awareness event in Greensburg can provide 'spark of hope' for addicts, families

A decade ago, Katrin Schall of Youngstown would have had little interest in an event like the Overdose Awareness Day scheduled this weekend in Greensburg.

But on Saturday, Schall — who overcame her own drug addiction — will be at St. Clair Park in her capacity as supervisor for Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services’ certified recovery specialists.

“When I was released from prison, I wasn’t interested in recovery,” Schall said. “Having a criminal background and record, it was hard for me to believe that there was any hope.”

Today, Schall has 10 certified recovery specialists working under her. And while her journey to recovery was court-ordered, she nonetheless found a spark of hope in her own certified recovery specialist.

“He told me that he was once sitting where I was,” she said. “It was hard for me to listen to somebody who hadn’t walked in my shoes. But I had a lot of individuals who cheered me on and believed in me.”

Schall would like to see that same spark of hope among those attending the Westmoreland Drug & Alcohol Commission’s Overdose Awareness Day, set for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at St. Clair Park on North Maple Avenue.

“It’s to give family members and the community a place to come together and do a memorial to lost loved ones, and share hope with people … that recovery is possible,” Schall said.

Liz Comer, director of clinical and case-management services for the commission, agreed.

“It gives hope and educates people about the possibility of recovery,” she said. “We need to inspire people to give them hope to seek out treatment. It’s to acknowledge overdose awareness, but it’s also about highlighting September as National Recovery Month.”

This will the third Overdose Awareness Day — it was held in 2016 and 2017, and Comer said the goal is to make it an annual event going forward.

“It’s really a day for all of our certified recovery specialist services to also come together,” Comer said. “We’ll have all three recovery centers — Lost Dreams Awakening in New Kensington, FAVOR in Bolivar and Sage’s Army from Irwin — in one place.”

Events at Overdose Awareness Day will include 11 a.m. opening remarks; a noon bell-ringing memorial; recovery speakers at 1 p.m.; live music at 2 p.m. and a moment of silence at 3 p.m.

The day will also include children’s activities and memorial bell decorating crafts.