An annual memorial service honoring the start of National Crime Victims Week focused on the opioid epidemic Sunday.
Members of Recovery Now New York, Substance Overdose Awareness Recovery Services (SOARS), and other community members gathered to remember those lost to an opioid overdose, and say they are crime victims as well.
Gates Police Chief James VanBrederode said the epidemic is taking more lives than people might think.
"We always focus in on the big stuff, DWI crashes, that’s only about six of seven people a year. Even the homicide rate is lower than the number of people dying from the opiate problem."
He says the people selling heroin, or more often now Fentanyl, know that what they are selling will potentially kill some one, and that its time to hold people accountable.
Becky Baker agrees, she lost her son Scot to an overdose in February of 2016, and has been working with other families who are in similar situations ever since.
"Almost every death that I’ve heard of in the past months has been Fentanyl. And that’s what’s killing people. And I really think the dealers should be held accountable for that because they know what they are selling."
Baker helped organize the event and created SOARS. They hold meetings in Greece for grieving families on Wednesday nights.
She says at least gatherings like these help families feel less alone in their grief.
"I probably have 60 families in my phone that are grieving the loss of someone to overdose, it’s pretty sad. But we do come together and we do support each other."
The vigil was held at the Highland Park Victim Rights Memorial.