Foxboro Flag Display Recognizes the Drug Crisis in Our Community

There is a drug crisis in our community. The “Stakes Are High” Flag Display Project on the Foxboro Common for one week in August marks Drug Overdose Awareness Week, honoring the memory of individuals impacted by this crisis, providing resources to help those suffering, and raising awareness that we have to protect our children and families.

On Saturday, August 19, 2023 volunteers will plant the flags between 9 am - noon. Anyone who shares the concern about this crisis is welcome to help! Join us to support local students, families of victims, and survivors!
The following Sunday, on Aug. 27, between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., there will also be speakers and resource tables available to the public on the Foxboro Common.

"The Stakes Are High" Display project, organized by long-time Foxboro resident Kris Long and the Foxboro Jaycees, is erected in conjunction with International Overdose Awareness Day, Aug. 31. The stigma surrounding addiction and drug-related deaths often puts the crisis out of sight, out of mind when in reality, the drug crisis pervades our community, including schools and families. Our communities must unite to acknowledge that help is needed and find ways to educate our young people about the dangers of drugs.

Kris Long explains the need to show that there is an effort to prevent abuse and isolation from lack of knowledge and feeling stigmatized: “When I was going through it, there was nothing, there were no resources. I didn’t know where to go, and I didn’t know what to do,” she explained, “and now, there are all of these great things out there to help, but we just don’t have one house for them.” Kris adds that the crisis cannot be solved by one person, that this must be a community effort to support families and schools through education and public resources.

Now working in the field and with those who have MassHealth, Kris stresses the urgent need to continue to raise awareness: “The reality is we are still not doing enough . We are outnumbered and unable to provide sustainable long term treatment to all who need and want it. We still have the revolving door: someone goes to detox, is unable to go to the next level of care, and is sent back to the street , only to re-enter again and again.”

There were 2,357 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in 2022, surpassing the previous peak in 2021 by an estimated 57 deaths. Preliminary data also shows there were 522 confirmed and estimated opioid-related overdose deaths in the first three months of 2023, a 7.7 % decrease , and estimated 44 fewer deaths from the same time period in 2022 (Source: Department of Public Health).

“Each flag represents a life; those people were somebody’s children, they were somebody’s friend,” Kris Long explains. “And you have to help validate that loss and that heartache for those families.”

The flags are placed in color-coordinated quadrants, with each color and section representing different years dating back to 2015. Massachusetts deaths occurring in the most recent year, in this case 2022, will be remembered with 2357 purple flags; 2290 dark green flags for 2021; 2035 red flags for 2020; 1952 bright green flags for 2019; 2033 blue flags for 2018; 2033 yellow flags for 2017; 2100 orange flags for 2016; and 1700 dark green flags for 2015.

Long first put her ideas about this display and event into motion back in 2019, after having supported two of her own loved ones who battled addiction. Although they are in recovery, she considers her family one of the lucky ones. “This project is about raising awareness, and it’s about being a voice -- something that says, ‘hey, you matter,’” she said.

Anyone is welcome to visit the display during the week on the Common, attend the public forum on Sunday, or assist with planting the flags on Saturday, August 19th between 9 am - noon. “That’s what people need: to see our community come together.”

Everyone is welcome to participate. Kris invites anyone who has a resource or story to share to reach out. Speakers are welcome to share their own stories or of their loved ones. This event reminds those who are struggling that they are not alone.

Visit the Jaycees Website or contact Kris for more information.

Thank you
Kris Long
508-212-7206
Krisma3535@gmail.com