The Response - 32

news & events

on the radar
past events
March 12, 2018

Berks Black Balloon Day
Black Balloon Day has become a national and international event, bringing
awareness to overdose deaths. On March 12, 2018, Berks County Black
Balloon, a local group created by Bill Murray and son Patrick Murray,
in an effort to raise awareness on the opioid addiction and overdoses
epidemic, hosted the first ever "Black Balloon Benefit Buffet" at Wyomissing
Family Restaurant and Bakery. The event was in honor of not only Christopher Murray, the son of Bill and brother of Patrick,
who has passed in 2005 from an opioid overdose, but to ALL those in Berks County who have been affected. The event was attended by
approximately 400 individuals to show support of efforts to combat opioid addiction. The organizers plan to host this event annually to
coincide with National Black Balloon Day on March 6th.
Facebook - Berks County Black Balloon * Email - berkscountyblackballoon@gmail.com

April 26, 2018

National Drug Take Back Day
The third annual Berks County Medical Society Drug Take Back Event was held
on April 28, 2018 at the First Energy Stadium. During the four-hour event, a
total of 342 cars visited the drop off site and 678 lbs. of prescription drugs were
collected. Over the last three years, this event has been highly successful with
900 cars driving through and over 1,600 pounds of drugs collected. A special
thank you to our army of BCMS volunteers, COCA, District Attorney John
Adams, The Reading Fightin' Phils, our sponsors, and the Berks Opioid Coalition
for making this our most successful year.
In coordination with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Spring
Township Police Department set up two drug take back sites at the Giant Food Stores on
April 26th. Law enforcement organizations play a key role to insure the safe disposal of drugs.

June 1, 2018

Opioid Coalition Committee
Members at work

the response // summer/fall 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Response