On Sunday, August 31, at 8:00 p.m., the Sioux Falls community will gather at the River Greenway to observe International Overdose Awareness Day. The annual candlelight vigil, organized by Emily’s Hope, Helpline Center, Face It Together, and Midwest Street Medicine, provides a space to honor the lives lost to overdose and fentanyl poisoning, support survivors, and raise awareness about the ongoing crisis.
The Arc of Dreams will be illuminated in purple, the international color of overdose awareness, as community members come together in solidarity.
This year’s program features powerful stories from:
- Cameron Nielson, who will share his experience surviving an overdose, alongside his mother, Lisa Nielson.
- Sammi and Stephanie Swier, who will speak about the devastating loss of their cousin, Marie Swier Anderson, to fentanyl poisoning.
- Sioux Falls Police Chief Jon Thum will address the community’s continued efforts to respond to the crisis.
Emily’s Hope Founder, Angela Kennecke, will emcee the event.
The Overdose Crisis in South Dakota: While South Dakota remains among the states with the lowest overdose death rates, the trend has not declined as sharply as in other parts of the nation. According to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 80 South Dakotans died of overdoses between March 2024 and March 2025—a 2.4% decrease, compared to a 25% national decline during the same period.
In Minnehaha and Lincoln counties alone, sheriff’s offices have reported 46 fatal overdoses in the past 18 months.
Public health experts attribute the broader national decline to expanded access to naloxone, growth in treatment options, and opioid settlement funds reaching communities. In South Dakota, Emily’s Hope continues to play a leading role by distributing free naloxone across the state, including partnerships with tribal governments, health care systems and businesses.
A Call to Action: The vigil will serve as a reminder that behind every statistic is a loved one—a son, daughter, parent, or friend. By sharing lived experiences and offering community support, organizers hope to reduce stigma, connect people to resources, and prevent future tragedies.
Event Details
📅 Sunday, August 31, 2025
🕗 8:00 p.m. CDT
📍 River Greenway, beneath the Arc of Dreams, Sioux Falls
💜 The Arc of Dreams will be lit purple in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day.
This event is free and open to the public.
About Emily’s Hope
Emily’s Hope is a nonprofit organization working to eliminate the stigma surrounding substance use disorder and to save lives through evidence-informed education, compassionate support, and financial assistance for recovery. Founded by award-winning journalist Angela Kennecke after the tragic overdose death of her daughter Emily, the organization has become a national voice for prevention and hope. Emily’s Hope offers a K–12 substance use prevention curriculum used across the country, the Grieving Out Loud podcast, and on-the-ground initiatives such as naloxone distribution, a Post-Overdose Response Team, and a Youth Prevention Coalition in South Dakota. The organization also provides treatment scholarships to help individuals access care. Learn more about Emily’s Hope at emilyshope.charity.
For additional media information, please visit emilyshope.charity/media.