Thursday is International Overdose Awareness Day, will you join us?

#IOAD We are just under a week away from International Overdose Awareness Day. Every year on August 31st, we join our local, state, federal, and international partners to recognize the impact substance use and overdose have had to those we love and those we have lost.   This year, we are honored to partner with HealthyKP to host a moving memorial in 5 communities. The purpose of this vigil is to bring local and real visibility to the sensitive and often overlooked disease of addiction. This 30 minute event will host a moment of silence, prayer, and a community member speaking about their lived experience. We will also host a memorial table to place pictures and memories of those we have lost to an overdose.  Together, we will say their names.   Will you join us?   We invite you to bring a picture of our loved one to place on our table of remembrance    Flag displays reflecting the 2,357 Massachusetts community members who lost their life to addiction in 2022 will be created on the Wrentham, Franklin, and Millis town commons.  The numbers continue to rise - In 2022, Massachusetts saw a 2.5% increase in overdose fatalities between 2021 and 2022 and a 9.1% increase from pre-pandemic 2016.  - Fentanyl was present in 93% of fatal overdoses where a toxicology report was present - Cocaine was present in 53% of fatal overdoses where a toxicology report was present - 47% of all opioid-related overdose deaths were between 25 and 44 years old; 43% were between 45 and 64 years old How You Can Help - Become an ally! Listen and learn from those with lived experience. We at SAFE would love to introduce you to those in recovery who are open to sharing their story and answering the questions you may have - Create a baseline understanding. The opioid epidemic continues to shift and evolve. It is important to create both a baseline understanding of addiction and the opportunities our community members have to access support - Support local initiatives. Headlines and statistics are important, but healthy communities are the lifeline to recovery and healing. Supporting programs that directly meet with families, youth, and individuals alike to mitigate substance use and provide education on the link between mental wellness and addiction is crucial for long-term change.  - Become a SAFE BUSINESS. Become a leader in your community and allow community members to know that they are welcomed and can ask for help in your space. - Book a training with us to learn how to administer Narcan!   Addiction is not invisible We hope you will join us on August 31st to honor those we have lost and to support all those who are still grieving.  Fact of the week  Did you know that SAFE holds the only fully subsidized Narcan training and distribution license in our area of the state?  Our Contact Information SAFE Coalition 31 Hayward St., Unit 2c Franklin, MA 02038-0434 774 847 9474 http://www.safecoalitionma.org