Honoring Lives Lost and Lives Rebuilt: Community Commemorates International Overdose Awareness Day

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Nothing is as raw as a mother's emotion as she tells of her son's struggle and ultimate death from addiction.

“His smile would light up the room, and he was the happiest boy. I mean, it makes everything worth it. I miss his voice. I miss hearing him scream. I miss his bullet bike – all of it," said Mikelyn Bartrop, a person in recovery. "Those are things I will cherish for the rest of my life now because I'll never be able to hear it again.”

Members of the recovery community held a ‘Moment of Silence’ Monday night as the names of 180 individuals were read for each person who has died from an overdose in eastern Idaho since 2018.

"He was an alcoholic, and I was a meth addict," Bartrop said. "So I really never really thought I had the choice or the chance to talk to him, because I would make myself a hypocrite. I didn't know how to help him, and I was under the influence when my son died. So when I got sober this time, it was, 'if I couldn't stay sober for him while he was alive, he darn well deserves me to be sober for his death and to live in honor of his name.'"

International Overdose Awareness Day is an annual commemoration held on August 31st to honor those who lost their lives from addiction and drug overdose.

"I'm also here for my son Joshua, who I lost five years ago. We lost him to fentanyl overdose, and a lot of people are dying of fentanyl," said Chris Barbara, a recovery coach with Stewards of Recovery. ”So I'm just trying to bring awareness that things are still bad, and we just need to work harder."

Approximately 70,000 people died from overdoses in the United States in 2025, according to government data reported by PBS.

Dozens of individuals in recovery and supporters lit candles along the banks of the Snake River in memory of friends and family members who were lost.

A semicircle of paper luminaries glowing by candlelight displayed the names and photos of those who died.

""I've struggled with addiction since I was 13 years old. My son is one of the boys [memorialized] on a bag today, so I'm here to just spread awareness,” Bartrop said.

Community providers also shone a light on the hope and resources to help people overcome their addictions - including Brick House Recovery, Center for Hope, Probation and Parole, Stewards of Recovery, Tueller Counseling, Lean on Me, One Love, Renaissance Ranch, Eastern Idaho Public Health and Alcoholics Anonymous.

Organizers said that if you are struggling, help is available to overcome addiction and support your loved ones by living a life of recovery.

"If you're on the wrong path, there's another way to get there and to get sober and get straight before it's too late," Bartrop said.