The Ross County Commissioners proclaimed August 30th, 2025 as "Overdose Awareness Day."
August 30th will be “Overdose Awareness Day” after the Ross County Commissioners proclaimed it Monday morning. The day will also feature “Hopefest 2025” in Chillicothe’s Yoctangee Park.
Representatives of the Paint Valley ADAMH Board (Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services), Ross County Health District, and Hope Partnership met with the commissioners on August 11th, 2025.
Hopefest 2025 in Chillicothe's Yoctangee Park
Bill Showman, manager of Prevention & Evaluation at the Paint Valley ADAMH Board, also represents the Hope Partnership – both with concerns about the drug epidemic. He helped the commissioners with the proclamation.
Showman explains the upcoming downtown “Light It Up Purple” campaign and “Hopefest 2025” in the below video.
He said a memorial will be on the Friday before the festival, from 6 to 8pm. Then on Saturday the 30th, vendors, food trucks, and children’s activities “will help celebrate recovery.”
Since purple is color for overdose awareness, Showman says his partners will be delivering purple lights to downtown businesses on August 17th.
Part of the downtown Chillicothe "Light It Up Purple" campaign
I also asked him about the new PV ADAMH facility being built on CR 550 at the US 35 interchange. They struggled with proposed sites for it, but persevered there.
Showman says it should open in May of 2026, and will allow people in a mental health crisis to stay in the region to get help, instead of having to go to Columbus, Dayton, or Cincinnati. He said, at the end of treatment, patients will get a “warm handoff” with access to local providers.
Showman says if you feel like you’re in a crisis to call 988 to seek help and let professionals make an evaluation.
Sara Smith of the Ross County Health District was also at the proclamation, and explains how her department helps with overdoses and more in her video below.
The news release from the Health District:
Top photo, left to right: Ross County Board of Commissioners Vice President James Lowe, RCHD Epidemiologist/Health Promotion Programs Lead Liberty Merriman, Paint Valley ADAMH Board Manager of Prevention and Evaluation William Showman, Ross County Board of Commissioners President Jack Everson, Ross County Commissioner David Glass.
On Monday, August 11, 2025 the Ross County Board of Commissioners signed a proclamation declaring August 30 to be recognized as Overdose Awareness Day in Ross County.
“One life lost to overdose is one too many,” stated Jack Everson, President of the Ross County Board of Commissioners.
In commemoration of Overdose Awareness Month, the Ross County Health District (RCHD) has invited local businesses to participate in the Purple Light Campaign throughout August. RCHD provides purple lights to participating businesses to display in storefront windows to show support for overdose prevention, recovery, and remembrance of lives lost to overdose.
Businesses can confirm participation by completing a brief survey here.
Community partners also worked together to paint downtown business storefronts in promotion of this year’s Hope Fest celebration.
Ross County Health District’s medical mobile unit will be in attendance of this year’s Hope Fest on Saturday, August 30, 2025 from 1pm to 6pm in Yoctangee Park. Hope Fest celebrates recovery, works to reduce stigma, and provides support to the community and survivors living in the aftermath of overdose. Hope Fest activities for the whole family will include free food, music, and community resources. Learn more on the Facebook event page.
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Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.