Newton-Wellesley Hospital Remembers Lives Lost To Opioid Overdoses

NEWTON, MA — Newton-Wellesley Hospital is remembering lives lost to opioid overdoses with its annual “Purple Flag Event,” reported NBC 10 Boston.

As a visual reminder of the seriousness of the opioid epidemic, 2,290 purple flags were placed on the hospital campus, each representing a life lost to an opioid overdose in Massachusetts in 2021.

In addition to the flags, hospital staff, social workers, law enforcement, and those who have struggled with addiction come together to make it clear that resources and support are available.

“While you don’t hear about each of the losses individually, taken together we can plainly see that this is a tragedy of immense proportion that is difficult to put into words,” Newton-Wellesly Hospital President & CEO Errol R. Norwitz said.

“My sincere hope is that a year from now with the help of some compassion and some hard work we will place fewer flags in this same spot,” he added.

In 2021, Massachusetts recorded 2,290 fatal opioid overdoses, an increase from the 2,105 reported in 2020, 2,005 reported in 2019, 2,013 reported in 2018, and 2,006 reported in 2017.

The flags will remain on display through Monday, Sept. 26.