Penobscot County Cares hosts online forum

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - Folks around Maine gathered online for an Overdose Awareness Forum on Wednesday.

Penobscot County Cares is an organization that began in 2021 to help address housing, medical, and recovery needs in Maine communities.

Made up of over 30 agencies, the group is constantly growing its reach and partnerships.

Aug. 31 is Overdose Awareness Day, so PCC is marking the date with this forum and events.

Two years after they began, agencies are still working together to continue to address hot topics.

“We’re not going to forget about the people that are right in front of us that need our help right now. But I don’t see this problem across the country or in Maine getting, you know, way, way better unless we have fewer people jumping into that stream, upstream and that’s dealing with primary and secondary prevention,” said Gordon Smith, director of Maine’s Opioid Response.

Gov. Mills will be in Boothbay, delivering remarks at a ceremony featuring a remembrance of Maine people lost to overdose, a music and art program, and remarks from leaders, advocates, and individuals touched by substance abuse disorder.

The University of Maine at Machias will hold a candlelight vigil Thursday evening to honor and remember those who have died as a result of overdose.

That gets underway at 6 p.m.

The Bangor Area Recovery Network, HEAL, and Wabanaki Public Health are coming together for a community walk to spread awareness.

The walk gets underway at 6:30 p.m. in Norumbega Park in Bangor.

And Acadia Hospital in Bangor will light up in purple throughout the month of September to spread awareness and remove the stigma associated with substance use disorder.

For more information about upcoming Overdose Awareness Events, you can go https://penobscotcountycares.org/ or check out their Facebook page.

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