The Important Reason Why The Zakim Bridge Was Purple This Week

Boston's Zakim Bridge was lit with purple light Wednesday in recognition of National Overdose Awareness Day.

The 2016 Overdose Awareness date, Aug. 31, has particular meaning in Massachusetts, where accidental overdose deaths due to opioids alone are already estimated at more than 900 fatalities this year.

The latest numbers from Massachusetts' Department of Public Health run through June 2016, and put the number of unintentional opioid overdose deaths at 488 confirmed deaths and an additional 431-509 likely fatalities so far.

Read more: Mass. Opioid-Related Overdoses Continue Deadly Climb in 2016

The Mass. Department of Transportation made the announcement Wednesday.

Sadly, and perhaps appropriately, this is the second time the bridge has been illuminated with purple. Previously this year, MassDOT chose that shade to commemorate the loss of pop legend Prince, whose death was later revealed to be the result of an accidental overdose of fentanyl.

Fentanyl is the leading contributor to Massachusetts opioid overdose deaths so far this year, detected in 66 percent of 2016’s confirmed overdose deaths, based on the drug's presence in toxicology screening.

Image via MassDOT