Salem Commemorates Overdose Awareness Day

SALEM— The City of Salem is commemorating International Overdose Awareness Day. The event will be held on Thursday, August 31st at noon in Derby Square,

The local government wants to raise awareness of the broad cross section of individuals and families impacted by drug overdoses.

Mayor Kim Driscoll said, "Each year we lose thousands of people from drug overdose across America. Some survive, but can suffer a permanent injury, with devastating impacts to their families and friends. This is our opportunity as a community to come together and help recognize the loss we have all suffered. I hope people will join us on August 31st to show your support for finding solutions for a safe and healthier community, raise awareness, to recommit ourselves to our recent efforts like our door-knock program, regional coalition, and new preventive education efforts in the middle school grades, and – most importantly – to remember those whom we have lost.”

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the number of opioid-related overdose deaths in Salem increased to 19.4 people per 100,000, up from 14.8 from 2001-2005. Salem had 10 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2016.

The United States accounts for approximately one quarter of the estimated number of drug-related deaths worldwide, including overdose deaths, which continue to rise. Mostly driven by opioids, overdose deaths in the U.S. tripled during the period of 1999-2015, from 16,849 to 52,404 annually.