WAUKESHA, WI — As the nation prepares to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, the Waukesha community is invited to come together for an evening of remembrance, healing, and connection. This Sunday at 6:30 p.m., Horeb Springs Park will host a special event honoring those lost to overdose and supporting those still on the path to recovery.
Susie Austin, Peer Services Coordinator with Wisconsin Community Services and a member of the Waukesha County Heroin Task Force, joined Wisconsin’s Afternoon News to talk about the upcoming event and the deeply personal journey that fuels her mission.
“This is a space where people can come without stigma, without judgment,” Austin said during the interview. “It’s about remembering how people lived—not just how they died.”
The event will feature live music and a candlelight vigil, along with an Open Share space where attendees can speak openly about the lives of loved ones lost to addiction. A luminary creation station will also be available for people to create tributes, many bringing photos and personal messages to honor those they’ve lost. As night falls, the luminaries will be lit and displayed throughout the park in a powerful symbol of remembrance and community.
Austin said the event welcomes everyone—from families and friends grieving a loss, to those in active recovery, and even individuals simply looking to show support. Judges, police officers, and local leaders have attended in the past, creating a truly community-wide experience. She stays as long as needed, ensuring that every person who shows up has someone to sit with and talk to.
In her conversation on Wisconsin’s Afternoon News, Austin also opened up about her personal history with addiction and recovery. She has been sober for 27 years and has dedicated her life to helping others navigate similar journeys. Her daughter, once addicted to heroin, is now thriving and entering her third year of nursing school.
“She told me, ‘Mommy, thank you. You were the only one who loved me through it,’” Austin shared on air. “That’s what this is all about—support, healing, and never giving up.”
Austin emphasized that the event is not just for those directly affected. It’s also a valuable experience for families, young adults, and children to understand the real impact of addiction and the importance of open communication.
“Addiction doesn’t care where you live or how much money you have,” she said. “This can happen to anyone. But no one should go through it alone.”
The Overdose Awareness Vigil will take place on Sunday, August 31 at 6:30 p.m. at Horeb Springs Park, located at 330 Spring Street in Waukesha.
