Marlborough Participates In International Overdose Awareness Day

MARLBOROUGH, MA—International Overdose Awareness Day originated in 2001 after a discussion between Sally J. Finn and Peter Streker, as Finn was managing a needle program for the Salvation Army in Australia. Finn was co-ordinator of the Community and Health Development Program at the City of Port Phillip.

They planned an event to give ribbons away to commemorate those touched by overdoses. That year, 6,000 people participated. The following year, requests started coming from other areas, and other countries.

It grew, and spread around the globe, and since 2012 International Overdose Awareness Day has been organized by an Australian nonprofit and celebrated on Aug. 31. Communities in countries around the world now commemorate the day.

Marlborough commemorates International Overdose Awareness Day with a candlelight vigil on Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. at the Frank D. Walker Building's front lawn at 255 Main St.

In memory of those who have lost their lives to fatal overdoses, organizers place one purple flag for every life lost in Massachusetts in 2016. There will be more 2,000 flags on the front lawn of the Walker Building in Marlborough on display during the last week in August. The event includes guest speakers and a slideshow of some of the many lives lost to overdose in Massachusetts.

"This is our third year doing this vigil, and it promises to be another emotional and moving experience," said the release.

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