There is hope NBC 6 South Florida [Video]

Saturday is International Overdose Awareness Day, part of a global effort to stop overdose deaths, remember those who have passed and encourage support and recovery. 

“The struggle of opioid use disorder is not an individual issue, it’s best helped when we have a system that’s involved really pulling together all our different resources in the community, so the more we can get the information out there the better,” said Linda Hood.

Hood is the clinical director at Recovery First in Hollywood. She said they serve roughly 300 clients a month, nearly always at capacity.

Almost a third of adults in the U.S. know someone who has died of a drug overdose, according to John’s Hopkins research. 

Hood said understanding trauma helps reduce stigma which is one of the biggest barriers to battling addiction and healing, compounded with cultural, community and societal beliefs.

“I haven’t honestly worked with a patient that …