Overdose Awareness Day In RI: Find Local Vigils, Education, Events

RHODE ISLAND — Rhode Island cities and towns will mark a solemn occasion this week: Overdose Awareness Day.

On Aug. 31, vigils and rallies will be held across the Ocean State to remember local people who died due to overdoses — a number that has been on the rise.

Deaths from opioid-related overdoses increased in 2021 by 13.28 percent from 2020, data from the Rhode Island Department of Health showed. Massachusetts had 2,290 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in 2021 — 51 more than in 2020.

Many communities will set up fields of purple flags, the symbol of people lost to drug overdoses. Here are some ways to mark the Aug. 31 day of awareness:

Statewide

Project Weber/RENEW will lead a number of volunteers and partner organizations to distribute 3,000 boxes of Narcan at locations throughout Rhode Island to educate the public at large about what naloxone/Narcan is, how to use it, how to spot an overdose, and how to help keep their communities safer. Events can be found using the hashtag #EndOverdoseRI.

Providence

There will be an event at Burnside Park to remember people in the community who died from overdoses. Harm reduction supplies, including Narcan, will be provided. There will also be food available.

Find more Overdose Awareness Day events in Rhode Island here.