Community Comes Together For International Overdose Awareness Day

Since the beginning of the year, there have been 91 overdoses in Salem, and ten of them have been fatal.

During an event to commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day on Monday, city officials, police officers, and residents donned purple shirts to signify those 91 who have overdosed this year.

Ten wore black shirts to remember those who died of an overdose.

Mayor Kim Driscoll noted that each overdose affects more than just one person, but dozens of friends, family, and teachers.

“It is undeniably the biggest scourge in our community,” said Driscoll, who added that as a parent of teenagers, it is her biggest fear.

“We need to build awareness and talk about this as a community,” she said.

Driscoll noted the efforts of the Salem Police Department in taking drug dealers off the street, of public service organizations in providing help with treatment, and of the city’s opiod task force. But, she said the community has to do more to make sure the numbers of those who face addiction and overdoses go down and not up.

“It is important for us to deal with how we can come together to find a solution and assist families,” said Police Chief Mary Butler.

Butler added that when it comes to taking drugs off the streets, residents serve as the eyes and ears and need to contact the police if they believe there is an issue.

State Representative Paul Tucker highlighted some statewide efforts to combat opiate addiction and also urged people to remember that we should not define those who are addicted by their addiction.

“We will be doing this event next year, and hopefully there will be a lot fewer people wearing purple shirts,” said Driscoll.