FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Steuben County Proclaims March 6th, 2025 as Black Balloon
Day
Honoring Lives Lost to Overdose and Raising Awareness of the Opioid Crisis
Bath, NY – The Steuben County Legislature has proclaimed
March 6th, 2025, as Black Balloon Day in Steuben County. This annual
observance, held each year on March 6, raises awareness of the lives lost to
overdose in the United States and around the world. Communities across the
nation will participate in the day, with special events focused on the symbolic
black balloon, which represents and commemorates those who have died from
overdose.
Overdose deaths have become the leading cause of accidental
death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). In 2023, 81,083 people died from opioid overdoses, a slight
decrease from the previous year. National experts attribute much of the opioid
overdose crisis to the increasing presence of fentanyl. More people have died
from fentanyl overdoses than from COVID-19, car accidents, and suicides
combined, underscoring the staggering human cost of the opioid epidemic. Though
a variety of substances contribute to overdose deaths, opioids are responsible
for the majority.
In Steuben County, 288 overdoses were reported in 2024, a
decrease from 348 in 2023. Sadly, nine lives were lost to overdose death in the
county last year. Most of these overdoses were caused by heroin/fentanyl use,
along with other drugs laced with fentanyl, which continues to pose a major
threat.
The Steuben Prevention Coalition Opioid Committee is raising
awareness of this ongoing crisis and reminding the community that the nine
residents lost in 2024 were more than statistics—they were fathers, mothers,
sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, and friends.
About Steuben Prevention Coalition
The Steuben Prevention Coalition is dedicated to reducing
substance abuse in Steuben County through education, prevention programs, and
community engagement. Our mission is to help individuals and families impacted
by addiction by offering resources, support, and advocacy.
