If you’re doing that heart-racing drive over the Sunshine Skyway tonight, you’ll notice a unique color pattern on those new bridge lights. Families will gather at sunset for a lighting ceremony as the Skyway will be lit up in purple. You might even see some today wearing a silver badge. Why purple? What’s the occasion?
#TODAY The Skyway Bridge to be lit purple for #InternationalDrugOverdoseAwarenessDay after hundreds signed a petition. Kellie Sipos & other grieving families will gather at North Fishing Pier tonight for the lighting. "We lose 600 a month in Tampa Bay Area to drug overdose."@BN9 pic.twitter.com/75NSAkRpfp
— Fadia Mayté Patterson, M.S. (@FadiaTVNews) August 31, 2022
The bridge lighting and badges are to bring awareness to the drug overdose problem. International Drug Overdose Awareness Day commemorates those who lost their lives to drug overdose, according to the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center. 600 a month die in the Tampa area alone, according to a mother who lost a child to an overdose in the above tweet from Bay News 9 reporter Fadia Patterson.