Vigil to Remember Drug Overdose Victims Set for Saturday in San Francisco

Jacqui Berlinn embraces her son Corey who is homeless and addicted to fentanyl, in San Francisco, Calif., on Feb. 22, 2023. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Mothers Against Drug Addiction and Deaths is hoping to draw San Franciscans to a candlelight vigil this weekend recognizing the drug addiction and overdose deaths crisis this weekend.

“We are calling on the community to join us as we remember the lives lost to overdose and show support for those who are struggling with addiction,” said Jacqui Berlinn, a co-founder of the group. “We are inviting anyone who has lost a loved one to overdose or addiction, those who struggle with addiction, those who create policy around addiction, those who provide medical services to those struggling with addiction, and anyone affected by addiction.”

Nearly 1,400 lives lost between January and July will be memorialized at the vigil, she said. Those who attend will be invited to light candles in memory of their lost loved ones.

Berlinn, whose son is battling a fentanyl addiction, said the “Together in Light” sunset vigil is part of International Overdose Awareness Day. It will be held at 7 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 31, at San Francisco City Hall.

The organization aims to raise awareness about overdoses and the importance of supporting those struggling with addiction, she said. The group also hopes the vigil will help to reduce stigma around addiction and unite San Franciscans to prevent more overdose deaths.

Overdose Fatalities

An estimated 107,543 people died of drug overdoses in the United States in 2023, according to provisional data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

In 2022, 10,952 people died from overdose deaths in California, which had the fifth highest drug overdose mortality rate at 26.9 per 100,000 people, according to the CDC.

Overdose deaths involving opioids decreased from an estimated 84,181 in 2022, to 81,083 in 2023, according to the CDC. While those from synthetic opioids—mostly fentanyl—decreased in 2023 compared to 2022, cocaine and psychostimulants—such as methamphetamine—increased, the CDC reported.

Breaking Her Silence

Berlinn told The Epoch Times she has struggled for years to break the chains of her son’s fentanyl addiction and used to hide her story out of shame until she realized a few years ago her silence wasn’t helping her son Corey, herself, or anyone else.

A former heroin addict who eventually got hooked on fentanyl—a much stronger and deadly synthetic opioid—Corey, was homeless and smoking fentanyl on the streets of the Tenderloin district in the shadows of City Hall, where dealers brazenly sell in open-air drug markets.

He is now housed and is taking methadone, a prescribed substitute synthetic drug used to treat his addiction, Berlinn said.

She urged other mothers like herself to come to the event a half-hour before the vigil starts to meet and greet other parents dealing with drug addiction or the loss of a loved one to a drug overdose.

Jacqui Berlinn walks with her son Corey who's been homeless and addicted to fentanyl in San Francisco, Calif., on Feb. 22, 2023. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Saving Lives

Gina McDonald, also a co-founder of Mothers Against Drug Addiction and Deaths, said in a statement the purpose of the vigil is to foster community dialogue about the steps needed to combat the overdose crisis and to encourage public policy changes that can save lives.

“We stand together to honor those we’ve lost and to strengthen our resolve to prevent future tragedies,” McDonald said. “This vigil is not only a moment to grieve but also a call to action. We must continue to fight for increases awareness, effective prevention strategies and better access to treatment.”