The City of Boston, led by Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), is marking International Overdose Awareness Day this Sunday in remembrance of those who have perished due to the opioid epidemic. Sincere condolences have been extended to Bostonians who’ve faced the loss of loved ones to overdose fatalities, as well as an acknowledgement of the city’s continued efforts to bolster access to critical harm reduction services and care as National Recovery Month commences next Monday.
As part of these efforts, the BPHC is reminding residents that the overdose-reversing drug naloxone is widely available and user-friendly. BPHC data indicates a 38% decrease in fatal overdoses in Boston for the year 2024, compared to the previous year – a significant decline that marks the lowest number of overdose deaths since 2015, according to a statement released by the City of Boston. As a symbolic gesture, Boston City Hall will be bathed in purple light on Sunday night.
In addition, the BPHC in collaboration with the Boston Parks and Recreation Department is assisting volunteers, and State and local partners in a memorial on Boston Common where over 20,000 purple flags will be planted—each representing a life lost to overdoses in Massachusetts over the last decade. Mayor Wu, in a release by the City, underscored the significance of the gesture: “Today we are honoring the lives lost to fatal overdoses that have touched every corner of Boston’s communities.” She also expressed gratitude for the work being done across the city to diminish stigma and enhance services and treatment. Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Boston’s Commissioner of Public Health, added, “Opioid overdose deaths are tragic, and avoidable,” and she commended the city’s progress on reducing fatal overdoses…