MONTICELLO — Persistent precipitation did not keep community members from congregating on the front lawn of the Sullivan County Courthouse Monday evening to honor those lost to overdose, highlight those in recovery and swallow a tough pill: even through all the years of awareness and progress, there is still much more work to be done in confronting the overdose epidemic.

Now in its sixth year, the Sullivan County International Overdose Awareness Day Vigil underscores the larger global observance with the theme, “25 Years On. Still Needed.”

However, it was the meaning behind that theme which brought both hope and frustration to Village of Liberty Police Chief Steven D’Agata, who emceed the event.

“There’s something powerful about recognizing 25 years of awareness, advocacy, prevention, treatment, recovery, harm reduction and countless people working to save lives,” D’Agata noted. “If I’m being truthful, there’s also something deeply troubling about those words: 25 years on, still needed.”

That’s not to say progress hasn’t been made, as D’Agata acknowledged that overdose fatalities have declined and more individuals are seeking treatment and entering recovery. Regardless, he warned that such progress did not mean the hard work was over.

“Sullivan County’s overdose death rate remains above the state average,” D’Agata stated. “Families in our community are still being devastated by overdose.”

The evening saw the presence of healthcare providers, families, law enforcement officials—including Sheriff Mike Schiff and Monticello Police Chief David Lindsay—community organizations and individuals affected by substance abuse. Despite the drab weather, more than 30 organizations and resource partners spread across 23 tables took part in the event, distributing information and resources to attendees.

The evening also brought forth solemn accounts from those affected by overdoses and overdose deaths. Among those was Dorothy Sanchez, who reminisced about the memory of her son Jonathan, who was tragically lost to an overdose. Affectionately known as “Wavy” throughout the community, it is Jonathan’s memory that Sanchez carries with her as she continues advocating for families impacted by addiction.

“Today, we remember people we loved and we lost,” Sanchez said in a touching moment. “They are not statistics, and they’re not numbers on a report. They are sons, our daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends.”

Speaking from her heart, Sanchez recounted her son’s struggle to obtain treatment, followed by relapse, incarceration and, ultimately, a fatal overdose.

“I watched him go through [all of that] and then watch the cycle begin again,” Sanchez revealed. “Jonathan needed help. He wanted it. He begged for it.”

She insisted that families should have a greater voice in discussions surrounding addiction and recovery, noting that they bear witness to struggles occurring behind the scenes and beyond treatment programs.

“Families aren’t just standing on the sidelines of addiction,” Sanchez stressed. “We are witnesses.”

Through her grief, Sanchez reminded the community not to give up on those still struggling, stressing that there remains a window toward recovery and restoration before it is too late.

“We must keep pushing and learning, improving, challenging what isn’t working and building upon what is,” Sanchez stressed. “Above all, believing that it is possible to win this fight.”

Sullivan County resident Danny Eglowitz also spoke before the community, sharing his personal recovery journey. Eglowitz has been sober for 28 years since June 15, 1998, following years of substance abuse that eventually led to heroin addiction.

“The point of that is that it’s doable,” Eglowitz assured, noting that he “definitely came close to the other side more than once.”

More than anything, he wanted his story to serve as a beacon of hope that recovery remains possible, even amid an evening focused heavily on loss.

“One of the reasons nights like tonight are so important is that while we must confront the devastation caused by overdose, we must also never lose sight of what is possible,” D’Agata stressed. “Recovery is possible. It happens in our community every day.”

As the vigil wrapped up, families and community members were encouraged to share the names of loved ones lost to overdose before candles were lit in their memory.

D’Agata assured attendees that those names were not simply numbers within a larger statistic. They were people—individuals with dreams, ambitions and loved ones, who shared laughs and left memories behind.

“Remember the dead,” D’Agata concluded, highlighting the greater message of the evening. “Fight for the living.”