MOSES LAKE – Purple and white flags decorated the lawn at McCosh Park on Saturday for National Overdose Awareness Day. The purple flags represent the 254 lives saved from an overdose and the 108 lives lost to overdose, from 2018 to 2022 in Grant County. The statistics come from reports to the Grant County Health District, according to Mariah DeLeon, the organizer of the event.  

“We really just wanted to create a space for people to memorialize these people and just kind of bring a little bit more humanity to the situation,” Deleon said.  

The Grant County Health District was distributing Narcan, shirts, tote bags and water bottles that have a purple heart that say #EndOverdose.  

Narcan can be used to help someone overdosing on opioids. DeLeon said there are no consequences to using Narcan, even if the person is not overdosing on an opioid. She said to wait five minutes between two doses and not administer more than two doses. She also said to call the police, there are good Samaritan laws in place to protect people from being charged for helping with an overdose and law enforcement and EMS will help ensure everyone’s safety. 

“Even though we are a small community, overdose does affect us as well. It might not affect you, but it does affect people’s loved ones, their friends, neighbors,” DeLeon said. “So let people know that if we come together as a community, we can find some solutions and end overdose.”  

The event took place next to the Saturday farmers market. There were tables from Grant County Health District, Moses Lake Community Coalition, Quincy Partnership for Health, Nuestras Raíces, Latino Civic Alliance, Oxford House, Renew, Unidos Nueva Alianza, Community Health Plan of Washington, Coordinated Care Health, Hope Source, Goodwill, Planned Parenthood and the Moses Lake Fire Department.  

The Oxford House’s new Moses Lake location is accepting applications for residents, said Nokey Pando, who works with the organization. Those interested in applying can find additional information at www.oxfordhouse.org. If you know of a woman in need of services, they can apply at www.oxfordvacancies.com.

The purpose of the event was to connect those in the community affected directly or indirectly by addiction with education and needed resources, she said. 

“We have to educate people that it doesn't even matter what the person’s background or race is,” DeLeon said. “It could be someone who is prescribed opioids from their doctors. It could be your grandpa who accidentally forgot that he took pain meds in the morning and he took a second dose. Overdoses don't just happen to people who are addicted to medication, there are accidental overdoses and stuff like that.”  

    Flags decorated McCosh park in Moses Lake for National Overdose Day. The 254 purple flags represented locals saved from overdose and the 108 whote flags represented those lost to an overdose from 2018 to 2022.