Dismas Charities recognizes Overdose Awareness Day

In recognition of Overdose Awareness Day on August 31st, Dismas Charities Manchester has placed 1,410 purple pinwheels outside its facility—each one symbolizing a life lost to drug overdose in Kentucky in 2024. The visual tribute is based on data from the 2024 Kentucky Drug Overdose Fatality Report, which confirmed that 1,410 Kentuckians died from drug overdoses last year. While this marks the third consecutive year of decline in overdose deaths across the state, the toll remains devastating. Fentanyl was involved in 62.3% of those deaths, and methamphetamine in50.8%. “Each pinwheel represents a person, someone’s child, parent, friend, or neighbor,” said Assistant Director Whitney Sizemore from Dismas Charities Manchester. “Our goal is to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remind the community that behind every statistic is a story.” Dismas Charities provides reentry services for individuals transitioning from incarceration, many of whom have been impacted by substance use. The organization is committed to supporting recovery and providing second chances through safe, structured, and compassionate programming. As Kentucky continues to battle the overdose crisis, efforts like these serve as powerful reminders that awareness, prevention, and compassion are essential to saving lives.