Mayor Ballantyne Honoring Overdose Awareness Day and Recovery Month in Somerville

This September, purple flags will once again be placed on the front lawn of Somerville City Hall to honor residents whose lives were lost to opioid-related overdose in 2024 and in years past. The annual display is part of the City’s recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day and Recovery Month. 

“Every purple flag represents a neighbor we’ve lost too soon and serves as a reminder that the overdose crisis is not abstract, it’s here in Somerville, touching families on every block,” said Mayor Katjana Ballantyne. “We can’t bring back those we’ve lost, but we can honor them by fighting stigma, carrying Narcan, and standing with those in recovery.” 

In addition to the flag display, free Narcan (naloxone) distribution and training events will be offered, and Mayor Katjana Ballantyne is encouraging community members to show their support by displaying purple ribbons, lights, or other items in solidarity.  

Honoring Overdose Awareness 

On Thursday, August 28, Mayor Ballantyne will host an Overdose Remembrance Event to remember the eight Somerville residents who passed away from a substance use related overdose in 2024.  

This event will include the planting of eight purple flags on the Highland Ave. side of City Hall, and one larger flag representing all those lost in prior years. Attendees are welcome to bring a small item of memorabilia to honor their lost loved one. The event will conclude with a moment of silence and candle lighting. City Hall will be lit with purple lights in recognition of Recovery Month. The flag and light displays will remain for the entire month of September. 

Free Narcan Distribution and Training Events 

Somerville Health and Human Services staff will host free Narcan Distribution Events and Overdose Prevention trainings. These trainings teach people the signs of an overdose, how to respond to an emergency and how to use Narcan. Harm reduction supplies will also be distributed including the overdose-reversing nasal spray naloxone (often referred to as Narcan), Fentanyl test strips, CPR face shields, and syringe disposal boxes.  

Dates and locations include: 

• Somerville Overdose Remembrance Event with Narcan Distribution
  • Thursday, August 28, 6-7 PM (Narcan Distribution)
  • City Hall Lawn, 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville
     
• Virtual (Online) Overdose Prevention Training 
  (Part of a monthly virtual training series in partnership with Cambridge)
  • Tuesday, September 2, 3 – 4 p.m.
  • Registration link: bit.ly/4mJcOsw
     
• Somerville Naloxone Distribution Event
  • Thursday, September 18, 1-4 p.m.
  • Davis Square Plaza, Somerville, intersection of College and Highland Avenues
     
• Somerville Public Overdose Prevention Training  
  (offered by the city of Somerville in partnership with Cambridge)
  • Tuesday, September 23, 6-7 p.m.
  • Auditorium, Somerville Public Library Central Branch, 79 Highland Avenue, Somerville
  • Registration link: bit.ly/4mJcOsw 

For more information, please contact Director of Prevention Services Tina Los at tlos@somervillema.gov.


 

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Efforts to secure interpretation into any language will be made upon advance request (at least seven days in advance) by contacting the SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs at somervillema.gov/ContactSomerViva or calling 311 at 617-666-3311.