COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Franklin County Coroner's Office is expanding on its mission to prevent overdose deaths by partnering with several local groups for an art gallery breaking the sigma around addiction. "Stigma is not getting treatment, not getting the help that someone needs and so it 's understanding that, realizing that there's a problem," said Dr. Nathaniel Overmire, a Franklin County coroner. According to the coroner's office, overdose deaths have been on a decline in Franklin County. In 2024, there were 455. That's down from 688 the year before. But, "there's still too many overdose deaths," Overmire said. The coroner's office opened up a new art gallery, "Shadow to Light: Breaking the Stigma Against Addiction," along with Southeast Healthcare's Fresh A.I.R. Gallery, Concord Counseling's 1221 Art Space and Reese Brothers Productions. It features art by 29 local artists that have been affected by addiction. "This is an opportunity for you to be able to showcase a piece you already have made or would like to make to help express your experience with addiction and recovery," said Leslie Herrmann, Site Coordinator at 1221 Art Space. Herrmann was responsible for finding artists to feature. One of those includes Destiny Surber, who said she struggled with substance use for seven years. She has been in recovery for the past five years and said art has been an outlet for her through it all. “It got me out of my own thoughts,” said Surber. Next to each art piece is a description explaining how addiction influenced their work. “I choose bright colors a lot of the time because it was so dark back then,” Surber said. Surber works as a peer recovery supporter, bringing art to others battling addiction. Through her work and this exhibit, she said she hopes people realize that those in recovery can do anything other people can do. “I think there's a stigma with that, like people who have been in drug use or have mental health challenges that they might be like less and that they're not just as smart, talented and amazing as anybody else,” she said. Some of the artists didn’t personally struggle with addiction but have seen it firsthand, including Keri Bull. She is a crisis intervention specialist at Southeast Healthcare. She said she’s in the field everyday dealing with families who lost loved ones to overdoses. “I wanted to make a piece that was kind of symbolic to what I see people struggling with every single day,” said Bull. The coroner’s office said the public can visit by making an appointment with them. The gallery will be open until September 2025. ...read more read less