Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services is shining a light on the issue of drug overdose.

On Monday,  August 31 the State Capitol will be lit in purple for International Overdose Awareness Day. In conjunction with that observance, people can light a virtual candle in remembrance of someone impacted by substance use:  http://dhhs.ne.gov/RecoveryMonth.

In Nebraska, the rate of drug overdose is low, but the number of deaths is still a concern. In 2018, 155 people died of a drug overdose and at least 67 of those deaths were opioid related. Nebraska’s drug overdose death rate per 100,000 people has increased from 3.6 in 2004 to 8.03 in 2018.