August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day, and businesses and organizations across Ohio are looking to turn the tide in the fight against addiction.

While families and organizations spent the day remembering their lost loved ones, they were also looking to find solutions to the addiction and overdose crisis.

As organizations and families around the valley honor the lives of loved ones that they have lost to addiction, one organizer is hoping to change how addiction is treated.

Hope Lovrinoff-Moran of OhioCAN  believes it is  time to bring harm reduction programs to the Valley. Such as a syringe service program, where people exchange used needles and syringes for new ones while being offered essential healthcare screenings and treatment.

"That's always offered as part of syringe service programs. They are offered the option to get treatment, that have narcan. They have all those different testing as well as getting their safe use supplies,"  Lovrinoff-Moran said. 

Although public health organizations in the valley offer free narcan, Lovrinoff-Moran said more work needs to be done to help people struggling with addiction.

Her next step is to reach out to local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and the health department to support establishing a syringe service program in Mahoning County.