National Addictions Awareness Week wraps up today (Sunday) with an event held earlier this week to mark the occasion.

Two organizations have dedicated the gardens across from city hall as the International Overdose Awareness Day Garden.

Allan McQuarrie is the Executive Director of the Community Counselling Centre of Nipissing.

He says the garden represents those that have died from drug overdose.

“Overdose is not something anyone brings on themselves from intentional behavior. It’s like an illness and it’s very much a tragedy in our society when anyone dies from an overdose,” he says. “This garden is validating the lives of those people who died through overdose of drugs.”

The other organization on hand for the dedication was the Aids Committee of North Bay and Area.