Project Aims To Honor Malden Lives Lost To Overdoses

MALDEN, MA — An ongoing effort is looking to collect and honor the stories of area individuals who have died due to substance misuse.

Dubbed “Walk to Remember,” the project is hosted by both the Reading Coalition and the Mystic Valley Public Health Coalition. It invites family members to complete a Google Form here, sharing memories about a loved one who passed away.

Organizers are calling for submissions from Malden, Medford, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield and Winchester.

Stories will eventually be displayed at an event in September focused on promoting understanding, compassion and change. There will also be an online story display.

The state tracks opioid-related drug overdose deaths with community level data. There were at least 277 such overdose deaths in Malden, Medford, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield and Winchester between 2017 and 2021, according to that data.

Malden saw 93 deaths, with 21 last year.

Statewide, the number of opioid-related overdose deaths has jumped in recent years, climbing from 2,086 in 2019 to 2,234 in 2021. State officials in June warned of the increase as they released an update to their data. Officials cited the continued proliferation of the powerful drug fentanyl as a “persistent factor” in opioid-related deaths. Experts have also noted COVID-19 pandemic impacts on those battling addiction, including limited access to treatment and support networks, among other things.