COEUR d'ALENE — Slowly, the stories emerged in the darkness Wednesday night at Independence Point.

One woman talked of visiting a loved one, dying of a drug overdose, in the hospital.

"The machine kept beeping," she said.

She hoped he might come back.

"He never did," she said.

Another spoke of Uncle Luke, who also died of drugs.

"We didn't even know he had a substance abuse problem," she said.

One man said he lives with "what ifs" every day, playing back the overdose death of a loved one five years ago.

"Something has got to give," he said.

About 25 people came out for a candlelight vigil hosted by the Panhandle Health District and the Kootenai Recovery Community Center in remembrance of those lost to drug overdose.

The vigil was held on International Overdose Awareness Day.

There were 353 bags with battery-powered tea lights lined up on the steps of Independence Point, next to the dark waters of Lake Coeur d'Alene. Each stood for an Idahoan who died of a drug overdose last year.

Tess Reasor, executive director of the Kootenai Recovery Community Center, said they hope to raise awareness that many are battling drugs, and that they are not alone.

"Let them know that people care, that our community cares," she said.

Drug victims are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, she said. They made mistakes, Reasor said, as do all people.

"It's unfortunate they didn't get to live the lives they deserved to live," Reasor said.

Josh Ericson with KRCC said it's important to reach out and "be there for others as best we can."

"Sometimes we feel alone but people are there for you," he said.

Some fought back tears during a moment of silence, and cried again as they recalled friends and family who died of an overdose.

One woman said she was there for a cousin who was joyous and enjoyed being around people.

"He made everyone happy," she said.

But drugs took him.

Another man talked of a friend who died of an overdose the first day he got out of prison.

"He couldn't even make it one day," he said.

Reasor said those who died of drugs are gone but "live on in our hearts."

And that, she said, can never be taken away.