A display of 139 small purple flags outside the Eau Claire County Government Center the week of August 31 will honor the 139 Eau Claire County residents who lost their lives to an overdose between 2018 and 2025.
The display, set up by Health Department staff on Monday, August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day, is located near the Eau Claire County Jail and Health Department entrances (710 2nd Ave., Eau Claire).
Overdose is preventable. Overdose Awareness Day is a time to remember community members we have lost to overdose and to support those working toward recovery. It also raises awareness about overdose prevention and connects people with local resources that can help save lives.
Fentanyl-related overdose is the top cause of death in Wisconsin residents ages 25 to 54, a recent study found. Between 2018 and 2025, Eau Claire County lost 139 residents to a drug overdose, 96 of which were related to opioids.
“In addition to honoring and remembering the loved ones we’ve lost, we stand together to say that more needs to be done to end overdoses in our community,” says Sarah Dillivan-Pospisil, public health specialist at the Health Department. “Learning how to prevent overdoses by safely storing and disposing of medications, knowing where to get naloxone and how to administer it, and finding local resources are a few ways to help.”
Learn about local resources and how to reduce the risk of overdose:
- Get free Narcan (naloxone), fentanyl test strips, and xylazine test strips from the harm reduction vending machine in the lobby of the Eau Claire County Jail (710 2nd Ave., Eau Claire). Anyone can use the vending machine at any time of day, no questions asked. Read more at the Eau Claire Health Alliance’s website.
- Learn about the CRAFT program, which supports family members and friends concerned about their loved ones’ substance use, by visiting At The Roots, LLC’s website.
- If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, visit theEau Claire County Deflection Program website to learn how to get connected to free, confidential peer support services.
- Attend Grief Unfiltered, a new grief support group in Eau Claire that provides a supportive space to share, listen, or simply be present with others who understand. All forms of grief are welcome. Learn more at the Wisconsin Meaningful Alternatives (WIMA) Facebook page.
- Safely dispose of your unused or expired medications at one of the many permanent medication drop-off locations in our county. Find a list of locations at the Eau Claire Health Alliance’s website.
- If you keep opioid medication in your home, use a lockbox, lock bag, or locked drawer and hide the key to keep it safe and out of sight. Stop by the Health Department to pick up a free lockbox or bag this week.
- Find local treatment resources, including peer support, meetings, apps, and more at the Health Department website.
