Community members, local officials and advocates gathered at Reading’s City Park Monday afternoon to remember those who have died from an overdose, support their families and highlight efforts to prevent future deaths as part of International Overdose Awareness Day.
The flag-raising ceremony marked the third year the SOS Berks Opioid Coalition partnered with the City of Reading for the observance. The event included an invocation, a moment of silence, remarks from community leaders and the raising of an Overdose Awareness Day flag, which will remain at City Park for seven days.
International Overdose Awareness Day is observed annually on Aug. 31 as a worldwide campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind.
Yvonne Stroman, community program specialist with the Council on Chemical Abuse, opened the ceremony by emphasizing the people and families represented by overdose statistics.
“Behind every number and every statistic is a person: a son, a daughter, a parent, a sibling, a friend, a neighbor, or a colleague,” Stroman said. “Each life loss represents dreams, relationships, memories, and a future that mattered.”
Pastor Tom Scornavacchi of Common Ground Recovery Community, who described himself as a person in long-term recovery since 2001, led those gathered in a moment of silence before delivering the invocation. He called on the community to continue addressing stigma surrounding addiction and support prevention, treatment and recovery efforts.
State Sen. Judy Schwank said Berks County has made progress in changing attitudes surrounding substance use disorder, while acknowledging that stigma has not disappeared.
“I believe here in Berks County, we’ve done a lot to end the stigma associated with substance use disorder,” Schwank said. “Events like we’re having here today reinforce that we’re a community that extends a helping hand instead of a neglectful shrug.”
Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera, co-chair of the SOS Berks Opioid Coalition, said overdose affects people throughout the county regardless of age or background.
“Substance use disorder does not discriminate, and our compassion must never do either,” Rivera said.
Rivera highlighted the coalition’s prevention, treatment and recovery efforts, including education on the use of naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan. He said free Narcan remains available to Berks County residents through the Council on Chemical Abuse.
Dr. William Santoro of St. Luke’s University Hospital Network Addiction Fellowship spoke about changes he has witnessed during more than 40 years practicing addiction medicine, including expanded access to naloxone and treatment.
“I’ve been practicing addiction medicine for over 40 years, and I can honestly say that I have never been more hopeful than I am today,” Santoro said.
Santoro said progress in preventing overdose deaths has come through investments in prevention, treatment, naloxone and recovery support, as well as the efforts of physicians, counselors, recovery coaches, first responders, families, policymakers and people in recovery.
“Recovery doesn’t happen because people are judged,” Santoro said. “Recovery happens because people are treated. And treatment works. I’ve seen it a thousand times.”
Reading Mayor Eddie Morán also shared a personal connection to the issue, telling those gathered that Aug. 7 marked three years since he lost someone close to him to an overdose. Morán also spoke publicly about his own recovery.
“I think it’s no longer a secret that I, too, am a person in recovery,” Morán said. “By the grace of God, September 11th would mark 20 years that I started my recovery.”
Morán said he protected his anonymity for years because of his community involvement and the stigma surrounding people in recovery, but came to recognize the importance of sharing his experience so others know recovery is possible.
He recalled recently receiving a call from someone who needed help and reaching out to others in the recovery community for guidance before driving about an hour late on a Friday night to take the person to treatment.
“That is why awareness matters,” Morán said. “It means knowing where to find help, knowing how to recognize an overdose, having access to Narcan, and most importantly, making sure people feel comfortable asking for help without fear of judgment.”
Morán also issued a proclamation recognizing Aug. 31, 2026, as International Overdose Awareness Day in the City of Reading.
Among the most personal remarks of the afternoon came from SOS Berks member Marlene Rathman, who spoke about her son, Luke Preston Rathman, who died in 2021.
Rathman remembered her son as a musician, father of two daughters and someone who volunteered with City Year in Los Angeles, where he started a school of rock club for students.
“Luke was deeply loved, a little brother to his sister Kate, a dada to two beautiful girls, and a friend to many,” Rathman said. “The name Luke means ‘bringer of light,’ and he truly brought light to everyone he knew.”
Rathman said her family followed Luke as he sought treatment after returning to Reading, but his substance use disorder progressed.
“The day we were told his light went dark, our grief journey began,” Rathman said. “We now strive to honor the light of our life.”
She highlighted resources available to families grieving a death related to substance use, including Berks GRASP, or Grief Recovery After Substance Passing, which meets monthly.
“The trauma of losing a loved one to substance use disorder is not our final chapter,” Rathman said. “Our new goal now is to shed light for other families and friends and to continue honoring the light of our lives.”
Rathman later helped raise the Overdose Awareness Day flag at City Park, where organizers said it will remain for seven days.
SOS Berks provides information on overdose prevention, treatment and recovery resources in Berks County, including information on obtaining free Narcan.