'This is so crucial': Milwaukee leaders release plans for International Overdose Prevention Day

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- City leaders will gather this Sunday, Aug. 31, at Washington Park, to remember the lives lost to drug overdoses. 

That event was announced Monday as part of the city's plan to mark International Overdose Awareness Day. It's a crisis that killed more than 300 people in Milwaukee last year, which is actually a 30% drop since 2021.

But city officials say more needs to be done, pushing not only to save victims but to prevent overdoses altogether. 

"This is so crucial," said Milwaukee Fire Department Chief Aaron Lipski. "It is not good enough anymore to keep going with 911 calls and waking a person up and sending them on their way. We have got to close the loop on the other side, and that is what these people behind me are so fantastic at."

If you'd like to learn how you can help the citywide fight against drug abuse, CLICK HERE. 

CBS 58