DICKSON, Tenn. (WKRN) — International Overdose Awareness Day is a reminder of the lives lost to addiction, along with the power of compassion and recovery, as seen through the story of a Dickson nurse who has turned personal loss into a mission to help others.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 105,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2023. In 2024, the number dropped to about 80,000 deaths — the lowest in five years.

Although advocates said it's encouraging progress, local groups are still fighting to break the stigma that comes with addiction.

For Ashley Miller, the impact of addiction is personal. She lost someone she considered family in 2019.

“I lost someone that was like a mother figure to me in 2019...It was hard losing her when she passed away of an overdose. We didn’t know that she was actively using again. She hid it really well, so when she was found, it just caught all of us off guard, including her sons,” Miller said.

However, Miller has also seen the other side of the story — recovery.

“Watching their personality, watching their demeanor — someone who’s normally happy, bubbly, who’s a little bit more quiet, a little bit more reserved, maybe not coming around as much. Those were signs,” she explained.

One of her closest friends, who struggled for years with drug use, is now thriving.

“She’s doing fantastic, which is the best thing in the world. [It] makes me smile every day,” Miller said. “I get to watch her grow as a person and her find herself again, and not only that but [I] get to watch her now be a mom, and the love that she has for her son. It’s the best thing in the world, and I’m grateful I get to see that with her because there were a few times I didn’t think I’d get that, so it’s awesome.”

Miller, now a recovery nurse, said her friend’s journey is proof that hope is always possible.

“Never forget it’s not too late. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve gone to treatment or relapsed...At the end of the day, what matters is if you want help, we’re here to help,” she said.

Allison Avalon, youth prevention coordinator with the Drug Free Dickson Coalition, said International Drug Overdose Awareness Day is about more than remembrance.

According to Avalon, it's important to “rally around each other and create just stronger, more accepting communities, and as we go into tomorrow, practicing that compassion, share kindness, spread that kindness, and you have no idea who you might be helping.”

Avalon stressed that addiction is not a moral failing, but a treatable condition. Miller agreed, saying stories of survival show there’s always a way forward.

Resources are available to help those struggling with addiction. Start with Drug Free Dickson for support.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/dickson-recovery-nurse-shares-message-of-hope-ahead-of-international-overdose-awareness-day/