Walk-In for Wellness raises awareness on overdose deaths in LGBTQ+ community

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Helping kick off Pride month is the Columbus and Franklin County Addiction Plan with the Walk-in for Wellness, an effort to address addiction and other health issues among the LGBTQ+ community.

The goal is to provide judgment-free care and access to assessments, treatment and other resources to help with recovery and decrease overdoses.

Andrea Boxill is an administrator for Columbus Public Health’s addiction services division and helps head the Columbus and Franklin County Addiction Plan. She says right now, the community is dealing with increasingly high rates of unintentional overdose deaths.

"There's always the risk of someone overdosing whether it be around Pride, or Fourth of July, or Comfest, or just any old gathering,” Boxill said. “So, we want to be able to provide services and the resources to reduce the harm and likelihood of death." 

You can attend the walk-in June 5 and 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Reeb Center located at 280 Reeb Ave. in Columbus. Meals will be served until 2 p.m. Boxill said while this event is only two days, the Columbus and Franklin County Addiction Plan, which is made up by more than 75 different agencies and partners, is always on standby for those in need. 

“We’re alway here,” she said. “We’re always welcoming. We’re not trying to further stigma and we want to support you, advocate with you for you and also build community and connection.” Boxill adds that even though this event is LGBTQ+ themed, anyone is welcome to attend. 

This is the first of the Walk-in for Wellness series to take place monthly from now through November. Free at each event: Medical exams, health screenings, Naloxone, Linkages to treatment, Medicaid enrollment help, personal care supplies, food and lock boxes. 

Free at each event: Medical exams, health screenings, Naloxone, Linkages to treatment, Medicaid enrollment help, personal care supplies, food and lock boxes.

The Columbus and Franklin County Addiction Plan advertises its wellness events on its Facebook page in addition to sharing data and trends happening in the community.