Community Event Raises Awareness to Combat Opioid Epidemic and Honors Lives Lost

Digital Contributor Aly Balan

Last week nearly 500 people attended Steps to Recovery (STR) 3rd Annual Night to Remember Overdose Awareness Event in Levittown. 

STR is a comprehensive addiction and mental health treatment program in Middletown Township serving approximately 75 individuals a month.

The event, attended by current program participants, graduates, and their extended family, along with members of the local community featured information and resource tables, speakers, music, food vendors, and a gift basket raffle to benefit the Kaitlin Murphy Foundation. 

Also on hand were Resource programs having Information booths onsite including The Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission, Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Angels in Motion, and the Kaitlin Murphy Foundation.

“This night is about bringing the community together, and to bring love and hope to a community that has suffered tremendous losses over the years,” said Manny Rivera, Executive Director of Steps to Recovery.

The event’s recipient of funds raised, the Kaitlin Murphy Foundation, was formed to honor its namesake whose life was among those lost to addiction at the young age of 23.

Annemarie Murphy, President of the Foundation, explained that the mission of the Foundation is to raise funds that can be used to support Bucks County organizations serving people with substance abuse disorders and helping their families to combat the ripple effects of substance abuse. 

The night before the remembrance event, Congressman Brain Fitzpatrick (PA-1) who is the vice chair of the Bi Partisan House Opioid Task Force awarded STR with the Flag that flew at the U.S. Capitol in honor of Overdose Awareness. 

A poignant ceremony to honor those whose lives were lost to overdose ended the evening.

For more information about the services STR, provides click here or call 855-423-2003.

To learn more about the Kaitlin Murphy Foundation please click here. 

Digital Reporter- Jeff Bohen contributed to this report.