Sign erected to raise more awareness on roadways about opioid abuse

Somerset County has now seen more overdose deaths this year than all of 2017, and now drivers will be reminded of it on a daily basis along Route 13.

So far, the county has seen 17 opioid overdoses this year compared with 26 all of last year, and has seen five overdose deaths compared to just three last year.

The sign stands along Route 13 southbound in Westover as a way to raise more awareness at the seriousness of what the county is dealing with.

"It will certainly change the awareness that it is happening here and we all need to look, because it could be in your house it could be in your family, it could be in your neighborhood," said emergency planner Victoria Lloyd.  "It's growing.  We're working to bring some awareness.  We're getting more recovery in here more treatment things.  But people are still using and it's just out there."

As part of their continuing efforts, the Somerset County Health Department is gearing up for its Rain Purple event this September.

You can find more about the month-long planned events at somersetrainspurple.com.