Vigil In Delco Honors Those Who Died From Drug Overdose, Raises Awareness

BOOTHWYN, Pa. (CBS) --  It was a somber night in Delaware County Saturday.

An Overdose Awareness Vigil was held in Boothwyn, where those who lost their lives were honored, but the event served a deeper purpose.

Tricia Stouch and her group Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education (NOPE) organized everything.

"We are losing a person in this country every 20 minutes," she tells KYW Newsradio, "and we just need to raise awareness and let everybody know this is a disease."

It was an emotional night for the dozens attending, including Matthew Brownhilo from Upland.

"My brother overdosed about a month and a half ago," he says. "Came out here to get together and just be with people going through the same thing."

Tara Johnson lost her cousin two months ago to a heroin overdose. She and her family came all the way from Ocean County, New Jersey for the vigil.

"I thought all of the speakers were amazing and it was nice to hear people with the same story and someone going through the same thing."

Among the speakers were Brandon Novak of MTV fame, who shared stories of his own recovery.

Councilman Dave White also spoke. He's a member of the Delaware County Heroin Task Force:

"We want to bring awareness, bring back the memories of those that have lost their lives, and hopefully, we can avoid someone else overdosing."

Photos of those who died were placed on the remembrance table. The vigil ended with a moment of silence, followed by a reading of names.

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• Drug Overdose
• Overdose
• Community
• Philadelphia