To the editor:

Aug. 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day, an annual campaign to end overdose. It’s a day to remember those who have died from overdose and to acknowledge the grief of families and friends. The campaign also raises awareness about overdose prevention and seeks to end overdose stigma. The CDC reports that drug overdose is sadly still the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, accounting for more than twice the number of automobile fatalities.

On March 8, 2022, I lost my beautiful 31-year-old son Andrew to an accidental overdose. Since then, I have worked with numerous Adirondack nonprofits to bring a powerful documentary film “The First Day” to junior and senior high schools throughout the Adirondacks to help educate and prevent addiction in our youth. In the film, Chris Herren, former NBA star and person in recovery, speaks to high school students about how mental health issues, bullying and self-harm can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms like substance abuse. If your student has seen the film at his/her school, I hope it opened a dialog in your home.

I also recently established “The Addiction Education and Prevention Fund in Remembrance of Andrew Neiffer” at the Adirondack Foundation. Andrew’s fund supports addiction education and prevention efforts as well as mental health wellness initiatives by providing annual grants to nonprofits and schools located in the Adirondacks. For information on making a tax-deductible donation to Andrew’s fund, please contact Adirondack Foundation at 518-523-9904.

While my world remains forever changed without Andrew, I’m doing what I can to help educate our youth and to shine a light on this growing epidemic that unfortunately isn’t going away anytime soon. I hope to encourage more conversations and actions in recognition of this solemn day.

Bethany Teitelbaum

(Andrew’s mom)

Essex