Drug Overdose Support Group
Monthly Support Group Meetings
Monthly support group meetings are available for parents, children, siblings, or other family members who have lost a loved one due to the drug overdose epidemic. The purpose of this group is to help those family members deal with their loss by showing support, but most importantly, showing they are not alone and that there are others that have gone through or are going through the same devastation. Two of the coordinators are mothers who have lost sons to the drug epidemic.
The meetings are held from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Fridays, once a month, and are held at the Knoxville Safety Complex (1650 Huron St, Knoxville, TN 37917.) Prior registration is not required.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Tracee Smith at 865-215-3875 or at tracee.smith@knoxcounty.org.
Annual Awareness Campaigns
Black Balloon Day
The Drug Overdose Support Group invites the community to display one black balloon in front of homes and businesses to signify the loss of a loved one to drug overdose and/or show support to those who are dealing with loss. This event takes place in March each year.
Overdose Awareness Month Memorial Crosses and Candlelight Vigil
During the month of August, purple crosses are placed outside of the City County Building, representing lives lost to drug overdose in Knox County. At the end of the month, the Drug Overdose Support Group invites the community to attend an Overdose Awareness Day Candlelight Vigil to remember loved ones who have lost their lives to a drug overdose. Families and friends in attendance can share a photo, along with the name and age, of their loved ones during the ceremony.
Empty Chair Campaign
The Empty Chair Campaign brings attention to the loved ones who are missing from dinner tables across our community because of our community’s drug epidemic. The Knox County District Attorney General’s Office participates by placing a chair and pictures of individuals who died due to a drug overdose, submitted by their loved ones, outside of its main lobby in the City County Building. This campaign takes place during a week in September.
Drug Overdose Memorial Tree
The holiday season is a particularly hard time for families who have suffered loss and the Drug Overdose Memorial Tree offers special way to remember loved ones. This tree is a memorial for lives lost to our community’s drug epidemic. It is important for the families to know they are not alone and it’s also important for us to share their stories to help prevent drug-related deaths in our community. After Thanksgiving, several community members gather to decorate a tree on display at the Knox County District Attorney General’s Office during the holiday season.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, visit www.all4knox.org, for community resources and information.