Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, in partnership with Mesa County Opioid Response Group, will build a memorial flag display at Lincoln Park to commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day on Monday, Aug. 31.

The event is a global recognition aimed at raising awareness of one of the world’s most urgent public health crises and reducing the stigma of a drug-related death.

Community members are encouraged to visit the 1,765 flags displayed at Lincoln Park in remembrance of the Colorado lives lost to drug overdose in 2025. 

Among the purple flags, 29 white flags will be specifically dedicated to those who have died in Mesa County.  In 2025, there was a 10% increase in total overdose deaths in Colorado, while there was a 17% decrease in Mesa County.

Representatives from various community organizations which are part of Mesa County Opioid Response Group will provide information and resources to help individuals and families who might be affected by drug dependence.

Across Colorado, 66.6% of the overdose deaths in 2025 involved an opioid (1,175).  Among opioid-related overdose deaths, 83.4% (980) involved fentanyl. 

While this number is down from its peak in 2023 (1,273 opioid overdose deaths of which 1,097 involving fentanyl), it is the second most deadly year on record for overdoses in the state of Colorado, and this year posted the largest number of deaths due to methamphetamine (850).

“In Mesa County in 2025, 29 of our fellow citizens died from an overdose or accidental poisoning with an opioid or illicit substance,” said Ryan Jackman, MD, Intermountain Health senior medical director for behavioral health. “Forty-five percent of our overdoses included methamphetamine, 31% involved an opioid, most commonly fentanyl, and 35% included alcohol.  More than half of these deaths occurred from individuals using multiple substances. Ninety percent of these deaths were accidental. This matches my experience as an addiction doctor; people don’t choose to overdose. Equally important, their family and friends were not planning on losing a loved one to overdose.” 

“A common misconception is that people at risk of overdose are easy to identify. They’re not. Their family members will tell you. A person can be at high risk because they returned to use, because the drug they use is not what they thought they were using, or because something else with their health has changed. The reality is that overdose prevention should be part of routine, compassionate healthcare and not reserved only for people who fit a stereotype.”

Dr. Jackson said this highlights the continued need for raising awareness in Mesa County about substance use, substance use disorder, and overdose which include accidental poisoning from fentanyl. 

“This year’s International Overdose Awareness Day display will aim to allow people to honor those we’ve lost and draw increased attention to a very treatable condition and the resources and efforts being made in Mesa County to do just that,” Dr. Jackman said.

Grand Junction Integrated Addiction Medicine Clinic works to increase treatment for substance use disorders. The clinic provides individuals with outpatient treatment options for substance use disorders, including medication for substance use disorders, naloxone, management of co-occurring mental health conditions, along with individual and group therapy.

The clinic partners with the Colorado Health Network and Colorado Health Institute to improve access to opioid use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery. 

The clinic also works closely with regional partners across the Western Slope including Mesa County Opioid Resource Group, the Women’s Recovery Center, the Mesa County Department of Human Services, and the divisions of probation and parole to ensure individuals receive coordinated care and services.

Grand Junction Integrated Addiction Medicine can be reached at 970-298-3801, or by visiting Grand Junction Integrated Addiction Medicine Clinic online. People can also call the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).  

Media are invited to attend any of the events below:

Aug. 31:
Lincoln Park Flag Placement 
6 a.m.

Lincoln Park Resource Table and Media Interview Opportunity: 
7-10 a.m. Dr. Ryan Jackman will be available to discuss the risks of overdose, the importance of treatment, and the challenges and benefits of recovery. Media should meet on the west side of Lincoln Park in the grassy field along 12th Street.

CMU Outreach Table, Narcan Training, & Resource Fair
1–3 p.m. 

Time of Remembrance 
Lincoln Park 
7 p.m. to Dusk

Intermountain St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, in partnership with Mesa County Opioid Response Group, will build a memorial flag display at Lincoln Park to commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day on Tuesday, Sept. 2. 

The awareness day is a global recognition aimed at raising awareness of one of the world’s most urgent public health crises and reducing the stigma of a drug-related death.  

Community members are encouraged to visit the 1,603 flags displayed at Lincoln Park in remembrance of the Colorado lives lost to drug overdose in 2024. 

Among the purple flags, 34 white flags will be specifically dedicated to those who have died in Mesa County, which reflects a decrease from 43 in 2023. 

Representatives from various community organizations which are part of Mesa County Opioid Response Group will provide information and resources to help individuals and families who might be affected by drug dependence. 

Across Colorado, 61% of the overdose deaths in 2024 involved an opioid (981). This is a decrease from 2023 when 72% of all overdoses in the state were influenced by an opioid. 

“While Colorado and other parts of the country have experienced a decrease in overdoses this year, about 14%, Mesa County’s overdose rate has been one of the highest in the state reaching 25.9 per 100,000 since 2000,” said Ryan Jackman, MD, medical director of the Intermountain Health Grand Junction Integrated Addiction Medicine Clinic. “Over the same time our emergency department visits for nonfatal overdose remain 25% higher than the state average.” 
 
In 2024 Mesa County had 36 deaths in which substances were involved, Dr. Jackman said. 

Twenty-five percent of those deaths included fentanyl, but 53% included methamphetamine. There were 62 separate deaths in which acute or chronic alcohol was deemed the cause of death, nearly double the overdose rate. 
 
“This highlights the continued need for raising awareness in Mesa County about substance use, substance use disorder, and overdose which include accidental poisoning from fentanyl. This year’s International Overdose Awareness Day display will aim to do just that by allowing people to honor those we’ve lost and drawing increased attention to a very treatable condition and the resources and efforts being made in Mesa County to do just that,” Dr. Jackman said. 

Grand Junction Integrated Addiction Medicine Clinic has been working to increase treatment for substance use disorders. The clinic provides individuals with outpatient treatment options for substance use disorders, including medication for substance use disorders, naloxone, management of co-occurring mental health conditions, along with individual and group therapy.  

In 2025, the clinic moved to Intermountain St. Mary’s Regional Hospital at 2643 Patterson Road, Suite 603. 

The clinic partners with the Colorado Health Network and Colorado Health Institute to improve access to opioid use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery. The clinic also works closely with regional partners across the Western Slope including Mesa County Opioid Resource Group, the Women’s Recovery Center, the Mesa County Department of Human Services, and the divisions of probation and parole to ensure individuals receive coordinated care and services.  

Grand Junction Integrated Addiction Medicine can be reached at 970-298-3801, or by visiting Grand Junction Integrated Addiction Medicine Clinic online. 

People can also call the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).  

While the awareness day is recognized on Aug. 31 of every year, it falls on a Sunday this year and will be commemorated on Sept. 2, with multiple events organized by community partners. 

Media are invited to attend any of the events below commemorating this day.  

Sept. 2: 

Lincoln Park Flag Placement 
6 a.m. 

Lincoln Park Resource Table and Media Interview Opportunity: 
7-10 a.m. Dr. Ryan Jackman will be available to discuss the risks of overdose, the importance of treatment, and the challenges and benefits of recovery. Media should meet on the west side of Lincoln Park in the grassy field along 12th Street.  

CMU Outreach Table, Narcan Training, & Resource Fair 
1–3 p.m.  

Time of Remembrance 
Lincoln Park 
7 p.m. to Dusk 

Intermountain St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, in partnership with Mesa County Opioid Response Group (MCORG), built a memorial flag display at Lincoln Park to commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day on Wednesday, August 28. 

The awareness day is a global recognition aimed at raising awareness of one of the world’s most urgent public health crises and reducing the stigma of a drug-related death. 

Community members are encouraged to visit the 1,865 flags displayed at Lincoln Park in remembrance of the Colorado lives lost to drug overdose in 2023. Among the purple flags, 43 white flags will be specifically dedicated to those who have died in Mesa County (a 26% increase from 2022). 

Representatives from various community organizations which are part of MCORG will be onsite to provide information and resources to help individuals and families who might be affected by drug dependence. 

While nationally the number of overdose deaths decreased by 3% in 2023 from 111,1029 to 107,543 – Colorado overdose deaths increased by 5% in 2023, with 72% of all overdoses being influenced by an opioid (59% were influenced by illegally manufactured fentanyl). 

“Overdose numbers continue to fluctuate from year to year and remain one of the leading causes of death in our country, particularly for our younger generations. Locally, fentanyl continues to be a concern, particularly given how quickly it can cause an overdose or accidental poisoning. We need to continue to protect against this through education and naloxone or Narcan distribution,” said Ryan Jackman, MD, medical director of Intermountain St. Mary’s Integrated Addiction Medicine Clinic. 

“Methamphetamine continues to be the primary illicit substance being used, and the major cause of overdose in our community, contributing to 62% of Mesa County’s overdose deaths in 2023. We need to continue to discuss how we will address this as a community,” he added. 

Since its opening in 2019, Intermountain St. Mary’s Integrated Addiction Medicine has been working to increase treatment for substance use disorders. The clinic provides individuals with outpatient treatment options for substance use disorders, including medication for substance use disorders, naloxone, management of co-occurring mental health conditions, along with individual and group therapy. 

The Intermountain St. Mary’s Integrated Addiction Medicine clinic partners with the Colorado Health Network and Colorado Health Institute to improve the community’s access to opioid use disorder prevention, treatment and recovery. 

The clinic also works closely with regional partners across the Western Slope including MCORG, the Women’s Recovery Center, the Mesa County Department of Human Services, and the divisions of probation and parole to ensure individuals receive coordinated care and services. 

For those seeking help with substance use, Intermountain St. Mary’s Integrated Addiction Medicine can be reached at 970-298-3801, or by visiting the Intermountain St. Mary's Regional Hospital Integrated Addiction Medicine webpage at intermountainhealth.org. 

People can also call the National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). 

While the awareness day is recognized annually on August 31, it falls on a Saturday this year and will be commemorated on August 28, with multiple events organized by community partners. 

News media are invited to attend any of the events below commemorating this day. 

Media Interview Opportunity: 
7-10 a.m, MT, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024
Lincoln Park, Grand Junction 

Ryan Jackman, MD, and a patient in recovery will be available to discuss the risks of overdose, the importance of treatment, and the challenges and benefits of recovery. 

Media Note: Please meet on the west side of Lincoln Park in the grassy field along 12th Street. 

CMU Outreach Table, Narcan Training, & Resource Fair 
Delta Field (next to the Plaza) 
11 am – 2 pm, MT

Time of Remembrance/Vigil 
Lincoln Park 
7-8 pm, MT

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Intermountain St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, Grand Junction, Colorado, junto con el Equipo de Respuesta a Opioides del Condado de Mesa (MCORG, por sus siglas en inglés), crearán nuevamente una exposición de banderas conmemorativas en Lincoln Park para conmemorar el Día Internacional de Concientización sobre la Sobredosis el miércoles, 28 de agosto. 

El día de concientización es un reconocimiento a nivel mundial que tiene como objetivo generar conciencia sobre una de las crisis de salud pública más urgente en todo el mundo, y reducir el estigma de una muerte relacionada a las drogas. 

 

Los miembros de la comunidad están invitados a visitar las 1865 banderas exhibidas en Lincoln Park como recordatorio de todas las vidas perdidas en Colorado por sobredosis en el 2023. Entre las banderas moradas, se encontrarán 43 banderas blancas dedicadas específicamente a aquellos que fallecieron en el condado de Mesa (un aumento del 26 % a partir del 2022). 

Representantes de distintas organizaciones comunitarias que forman parte del MCORG estarán presentes para brindar información y recursos a fin de ayudar a las personas y familias que puedan verse afectadas por la drogodependencia. 

Mientras que, a escala nacional, el número de muertes por sobredosis disminuyó un 3 % en 2023, de 111,1029 a 107,543 (ciento siete mil quinientos cuarenta y tres), las muertes por sobredosis en Colorado aumentaron un 5 % en 2023, y el 72 % de todas las sobredosis fueron influenciadas por un opioide (59 % fueron influenciados por fentanilo fabricado ilegalmente). 

“Los números de sobredosis fluctúan de año a año y siguen siendo una de las principales causas de muerte en nuestro país, sobre todo para las generaciones más jóvenes. En el país, el fentanilo es una inquietud constante, especialmente teniendo en cuenta lo rápido que puede provocar una sobredosis o una intoxicación accidental. Tenemos que seguir protegiéndonos contra esto a través de la educación y la distribución de naloxona o Narcan”, dijo Ryan Jackman, director médico, clínica St. Mary’s Integrated Addiction Medicine. 

“La metanfetamina sigue siendo la principal sustancia ilícita consumida y la principal causa de sobredosis en nuestra comunidad, que contribuye el 62 % de las muertes por sobredosis en el condado de Mesa en 2023. Tenemos que continuar la discusión sobre cómo vamos a abordar esto como comunidad”, agregó. 

Desde su inauguración en 2019, St. Mary’s Integrated Addiction Medicine ha trabajado para aumentar el tratamiento de los trastornos por consumo de sustancias. La clínica brinda a las personas opciones de tratamiento como pacientes ambulatorios por trastornos de uso de sustancias, entre las que se incluyen tratamientos con medicamentos para el trastorno por consumo de sustancias, naloxona, gestión de condiciones de salud mental relacionadas, junto con terapias grupales e individuales. 

La clínica St. Mary’s Integrated Addiction Medicine está asociada con la Colorado Health Network y el Colorado Health Institute para mejorar el acceso de la comunidad a la prevención, el tratamiento y la recuperación de trastornos por uso de opioides. La clínica también trabaja codo a codo con los socios regionales en la Vertiente Occidental como MCORG, Women’s Recovery Center, el Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado de Mesa, y las divisiones de Libertad Condicional y Provisional para asegurar que las personas reciban la atención y los servicios coordinados. 

Para quienes buscan ayuda con el consumo de sustancias, pueden contactarse St. Mary’s Integrated Addiction Medicine al 970-298-3801 o en la página web de St. Mary's Regional Hospital Integrated Addiction Medicine en intermountainhealth.org. También pueden llamar a la línea de ayuda de la Administración de Servicios de Abuso de Drogas y Salud Mental al 1-800-662-HELP (4357). 

Aunque el día de la concientización se reconoce el 31 de agosto, este año es sábado y será conmemorado el 28 de agosto, con múltiples eventos que organizan los socios comunitarios. Los medios de comunicación están invitados a cualquiera de los eventos mencionados a continuación que conmemoran este día. 

Oportunidad de entrevista para los medios sociales: 
Miércoles, 28 de agosto 
De 7 a 10 a. m. 
Lincoln Park, Grand Junction 

El Dr. Ryan Jackman y un paciente en recuperación estarán disponibles para hablar sobre los riesgos de una sobredosis, la importancia del tratamiento y los desafíos y beneficios de la recuperación. Medios de comunicación: reunirse en el lado oeste de Lincoln Park en el campo de césped en 12th Street. 

CMU Outreach Table, Narcan Training, & Resource Fair 
Delta Field (junto al Plaza) 
11 a. m. a 2 p. m. 

Hora de recuerdo/vigilia 
Lincoln Park 
De 7 a 8 p. m. 

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