Somerville to Observe Overdose Awareness Day and Recovery Month

In recognition of Overdose Awareness Day and Recovery Month the City of Somerville invites community members to a candlelight vigil and flag planting on August 27, as well as to overdose prevention training events throughout September.

The vigil and flag planting will take place Thursday, August 27, from 6 to 7 p.m. outside City Hall (93 Highland Ave.). Eleven purple flags will solemnly grace the City Hall lawn in memory of residents whose lives were lost to opioid-related overdose in 2025, with one large flag planted to represent those lost in prior years. Purple lights will also light up City Hall in recognition of Recovery Month. The flag and light displays will remain through September. 

“This observance is never easy, but it serves as an important opportunity to remember those lost, support those grieving, and reaffirm our commitment to providing community resources and supports. Everyone is welcome to join the vigil or to take their own quiet moment in September to observe the flags and remember that each one represents a friend, loved one, and valued member of our community,” said Mayor Jake Wilson “I’m grateful for the work our prevention staff does every day to support residents in need and for continuing to host prevention trainings to provide neighbors critical knowledge that could help save a life.”

In addition to the annual flag display and vigil, the City will observe recovery month with free Narcan (overdose-reversal medication) distribution and training events in August and September. 

“I’m very grateful the city continues to recognize the terrible toll opioid addiction brought on our community,” said Ward 1 Councilor Matt McLaughlin. “There was a time when people didn’t want to acknowledge it, but that did not hide the pain. The first step to recovery is to acknowledge we have a problem. The next step is to solve the problem.” 

Free Narcan Distribution and Training Events

Somerville Prevention Services staff will host Narcan distribution events and trainings to distribute free overdose prevention information and harm reduction materials. These include 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:

• Overdose Awareness Vigil and Flag Planting
  • Thursday, August 27, 6 to 7 p.m.
  • City Hall lawn, 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville
  • Narcan to be distributed
• Virtual (Online) Overdose Prevention Training
  (held the first Tuesday of each month in partnership with Cambridge Public Health Dept.)
  • Tuesday, September 1, 3 to 4 p.m.
  • tinyurl.com/et5jbknw
• In-Person Overdose Prevention Trainings
  • Tuesday, September 8, 6 to 7 p.m.
    • Central Library Auditorium (79 Highland Ave.)
  • Thursday, September 24, 6 to 7 p.m.
    • East Branch Library (115 Broadway)
  • Monday, September 28, 6 to 7 p.m.
    • West Branch Library (40 College Ave.)

To learn more about the Somerville Office of Prevention and their year-round programming and services, visit somervillema.gov/prevention.

ADA Accommodations: Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should contact the ADA Coordinator in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.

Translation/Interpretation: The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter in your language for free. To request an interpreter, please contact us at languageaccess@somervillema.gov or call 311 (617-666-3311) at least 7 days in advance of this event.

This event will be videotaped by the City’s GovTV team. Watch it on-demand with optional closed-captioning (select the CC icon) on YouTube.com/SomervilleCityTV. Or watch on cable TV at GovTV ( somervillema.gov/video) Comcast Ch. 22 and GovTV Astound (RCN) Ch. 13 & 613. Videos generally post within one business day of recording.