Let’s not forget about the heroin epidemic

With so much news and discussions related to the coronavirus and protests around the world, I think one other important topic has been sidelined more so this year.

Monday was International Overdose Awareness Day and I think this epidemic has received less awareness this year due to the pandemic and social injustice protests.

The topic did not come up much this year, besides a few times when the Capital Region saw a rapid spike in overdoses a few months ago.

At one point in Rensselaer County, the number of deaths from drug overdoses was just as much as the number of COVID-19-related deaths.

It seems like in previous years, the heroin epidemic was getting way more attention and you saw more public awareness events.

Now I get that it has been a hard year to hold public gatherings with the pandemic, but I think bringing awareness to this topic is always important and can really help save lives.

I applaud the NØpiates Committee in West Sand Lake for doing their best every year to bring awareness to the issue. Every year the committee hosts a memorial walk and the pandemic did not stop them either.

The committee held a vehicle procession on Monday in Averill Park at the Miller Hill Elementary School parking area and concluded in West Sand Lake at the West Sand Lake Elementary School.

Tim and Kim Murdick, the founders of the committee, know personally how devastating it is to lose someone to a drug overdose.

The Murdick family knows too much about the shame and stigma that comes with someone who is battling a substance abuse disorder since they went through it with their late son Sean.

Sean Murdick was the cocaptain of his football team at Averill Park High School and lived a pretty normal life up until he broke his arm and was prescribed painkillers.

Shortly after starting the drugs, Sean then started to use heroin and used it on and off for a few years before relapsing while living in Florida and passed away from an overdose on Sept. 28, 2015, at the age of 22.

Since losing their son, the Murdicks formed the NØpiates Committee as a way to raise more awareness about the opioid epidemic, to lobby with elected officials, and as a way to share their personal story of loss.

Every time I see the Murdick family, they are always friendly and great to talk to and you can really see the passion they have for raising awareness. I wish I was able to get out in the field a little more again so that I could catch up with more people like the Murdick family.