LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville's jail is remembering those who lost their lives to drug overdoses, while trying to prevent them from happening in the future.

Thursday, the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections hosted an event in the jail's front lobby in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day.

The goal is to raise awareness about overdoses and reduce the stigma of drug-related overdoses to build a safer and healthier community.

"The goal is to prevent people from dying like this, and to be able to do that we have to start by educating and informing people about this and to make people feel safe and comfortable talking about overdose," Mariya Leyderman, executive chief psychologist at LMDC. 

The jail also partnered with its medical provider, YES Care, to give out Narcan. The Kentucky Harm Reduction Coalition was also on-hand with information on harm reduction.

Last September, a Narcan dispenser was put in the jail's lobby in an effort to curb overdose deaths. Narcan is an over-the-counter overdose-reversal drug. The dispenser provides the Narcan for free to inmates released from jail.

Louisville's jail has seen a number of overdoes in recent years, including some cases that ended in death. Family members said that was the case for Richard Graham, who overdosed and died in custody in May.

Loved ones claim he got the drugs that killed him inside the jail. His death remains under investigation as his family calls for accountability from city leaders.

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