CLINTON, Iowa — The Clinton community came together on Friday for the 7th Annual Overdose & Addiction Awareness Vigil, an event dedicated to supporting those struggling with addiction and remembering those who lost their lives from overdoses.
The vigil, co-chaired by Bryanna Gomez and Mackenzie Jensen, was more than just an evening of remembrance. It was a powerful message of hope and recovery for the many affected by addiction.
Gomez, who has been in recovery for a year, shared her personal journey with the crowd.
"I struggled with addiction since I was 14 years old," Gomez said. "My drug use led me to federal prison, but now, I'm a year into my sobriety and co-chairing this event, helping others."
Gomez emphasized the importance of raising awareness about available resources.
"When I was struggling, I didn't know anything about events like this or that there were even resources out there. Now in recovery, I can see that there are people that actually care."
Jensen, who has been in recovery for three years, highlighted the importance of breaking the stigma around addiction.
"I've been in recovery for three years, so it's very important to me to break the stigma," she said. Jensen also spoke about the personal impact of the vigil, having attended it for the past few years since moving to Clinton. "It's helped me a lot to stay on the right path," she added.
The event was a mix of education, awareness and heartfelt testimonials. Attendees were reminded of the staggering statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which indicate that 46.3 million people aged 12 or older met the criteria for having a substance use disorder in the past year.
"Even having 24 hours of sobriety is a big thing," Jensen noted, underscoring the significance of every step towards recovery. Gomez echoed this sentiment, expressing concern for those still struggling and the impact on children. "There are people still out there struggling, and the kids that do not have any say in the matter, so we just want to reach out and say, ask for help wherever you’re at," she urged.
The vigil serves as a beacon of hope for the Clinton community, offering support and encouragement to those on their journey to recovery.
Vigil leaders say 273 people attended this year, which is the most amount of people yet.
For more information on resources and support, visit ClintonCRUSH.org or contact local organizations dedicated to addiction recovery.