No. 14 Vol. 19
New View Media Group • 1-800-691-7549
September 11, 2018
Wayne Hosts Its First International Overdose Awareness Day Event
I
By Steve Sears nternational Overdose Awareness Day, a worldwide event held each year on the last day of August, seeks to raise awareness about the extreme dangers of overdosing and reduce drug related deaths. The evening of Friday, Aug. 31, the Township of Wayne hosted its first International Overdose Awareness Day event at Wayne Town Hall, which was attended by about 125 people. A candle light vigil was held, and balloons released skyward, messages of love being sent to those who had passed on from overdose. Susan Schmidt, whose 20-year-old daughter, Alyssa Marie Schmidt Bernhard, died of a heroin overdose on May 28, 2016, hosted the two-hour event along with the Wayne Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse. Speakers included Mayor Chris Vergano, Detective Sgt. Jay Celentano, and many more during and evening of words, of remembrance, prayer and song. The evening of the 31st was everything that Schmidt wanted it to be. She first approached the Alliance and Mayor Vergano about holding the event. “It was a beautiful turnout,” she describes. She then spoke of her daughter. “She was my first born. Alyssa was amazing, she was very compassionate with people, she loved animals, she was the best friend a friend could ever have; she was the best friend I could ever have in my life. She was witty, funny, smart, she was caring, she was amazing. She was a fantastic daughter. She was my heart, my love, everything.” To Schmidt’s second child, Andrew, Alyssa was a second mother. “She always took care of her brother. He misses her badly.” According to Schmidt, Wayne itself has
lost four overdose victims the past month alone. Therefore, the purpose of Overdose Awareness Day speaks volumes. “I wish this didn’t happen,” she says. “My daughter was a good girl, she didn’t deserve this. She made a really bad choice, and this is the story of my life.” When asked about the event’s importance, Schmidt responds, “To bring awareness to our community, and also to honor the loved ones lost. These are good kids making bad choices.” Saturday morning, May 28, 2016, Schmidt found her daughter in her bed. “I screamed, I hollered, ‘Dear God, please bring her back!’ I laid on top of her, shaking her, kissing her, hugging her, and I knew I had to call the awful phone call, 9-1-1.” Schmidt never saw a warning; it just happened. Her life shattered from that day. Officers on the scene told Schmidt that it appeared to be a heroin overdose, but Schmidt said, “‘No. My daughter continued on page 2