Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Operations Bureau
-School Resource Deputies
-Community Policing Deputies
-Cadet Post 900
-Honor Guard
Department of Detention and Corrections

Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education (NOPE)
Coordinator Laurie Serra
www.nopepinellas.org

Community Partners:

LiveFree - Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Pinellas County

City of Largo

Landon Korabek - OneLove Foundation

Suncoast Hospice – Empath Health

PINELLAS COUNTY- For the twelfth year, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education (NOPE) to host the annual candlelight vigil.

The event will take place on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at Largo Central Park located at 105 Central Park Drive in Largo (at the corner of East Bay Drive and Seminole Boulevard) and will begin at 7:00 p.m.  

The vigil’s theme this year is: “Hearts of Hope” which is a continuation of previous year’s themes that aim at inspiring people to know there is always hope and hope through recovery when battling addiction. The mission of NOPE is to diminish the frequency and impact of overdose death through community education, family support, and purposeful advocacy.

The vigil is held to reduce the stigma surrounding addiction so that those suffering with the disease will openly seek help. The event will also recognize the many in our community who are suffering from addiction; and aspires to bring hope that the community working together can make a difference.

The vigil program includes inspirational messages from local leaders and performances by a local middle school chorus. The night closes with two keynote speakers and the lighting of candles.

The event is free and open to the public. The event was unable to take place the past two years due to the COVID19 pandemic.

Attendees who have lost a family member or friend to drugs or alcohol are encouraged to bring a picture to place on the memorial wall the night of the vigil.

The event is being hosted by Narcotics Overdose Prevention and Education of Pinellas (NOPE), and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office with community partners, LiveFree Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Pinellas County, the City of Largo, Landon Korabek OneLove Foundation, and Suncoast Hospice Empath Health.

The media is invited to cover the event. The keynote speakers will be available between 6:20 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. for interviews if requested. Please contact Deputy Felisha Barnes with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Public Information Office at 727-582-6221 for additional information.