The color black is not always associated with hope. So, when you hear that Black
Balloon Day was created to remember those lost to substance use disorder, you may
quietly look down in anguish.
Black Balloon Day, however, is more than that.
Created in 2015, it aims to not only raise awareness of opioid overdose deaths but the
importance of increasing access to treatment for substance use disorders as well as
providing necessary support to those individuals and their loved ones.
Bergen New Bridge recently participated in the event for the fifth time. CEO Deb Visconi
is glad they did. She said it’s all about facing reality in the face and doing all that we
can.
“Addiction touches every community, every neighborhood and every background,” she
said. “It asks us to look beyond stigma and see the humanity in each person’s journey.
It challenges us to create spaces where people feel safe enough to ask for help and
supported enough to believe that recovery is possible.”
Bergen County Executive James Tedesco couldn’t agree more.
“Black Balloon Day reminds us of the lives lost to opioid overdose and the families
forever impacted by addiction,” he said. “It is also a call to action.”
He thanked the efforts of Visconi and her crew – and the county as a whole.
“Bergen County and Bergen New Bridge Medical Center are leading with real solutions
— from Narcan deployment and Hope One to innovative programs like THRIVE for
teens,” he said. “We have made progress, but we remain committed to expanding
prevention, treatment, and recovery services for all who need them.”
The Black Poster Project, founded by Dee Gillen after losing her son to an overdose,
serves as a silent memorial to those who have died. Nearly 200 of the posters were
displayed in the Medical Center’s Chapel and Auditorium and represent a small fraction
of the more than 1,000 posters in the current collection.
The event ended on a note of hope, when attendees gathered to listen to the “Recovery
Speaker Jam” which featured community members who are currently in recovery from
their addictions.
The Medical Center’s Substance Use Disorder Treatment Addiction Treatment program
offers a full range of services across the entire continuum of care. Our programs provide
a supportive environment to begin a journey towards recovery. If you or a loved one
need help, call The Access Center at 1-800-730-2762.
