Reading Finalizes Plans For Regional Addiction Recovery, Remembrance Event

READING, MA — An event next week in Reading will aim to honor lives lost to addiction in seven north-of-Boston communities, showcasing the stories of various individuals alongside resources for those in recovery from addiction.

Reading announced this event last month before sharing finalized plans on Tuesday.

The event will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Reading Town Common. It will feature State Sen. Jason Lewis and leaders of the Mystic Valley Public Health Coalition, which is helping plan programming.

The event will also include various informational tables with recovery resources and a musical performance by brother/sister musical duo Cait+Pat.

A "storywalk to remember" and candlelight vigil will then highlight individual stories about loved ones lost to addiction in Malden, Medford, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield and Winchester. Community members from across the region have been submitting those stories in response to a call to action in recent weeks.

State data tracking opioid-related drug overdose deaths recently showed at least 277 overdose deaths in Malden, Medford, Melrose, Reading, Stoneham, Wakefield and Winchester between 2017 and 2021.

Those numbers have coincided with an increase in opioid overdoses across Massachusetts between 2019 and 2021.

Plans for this month's recovery and remembrance event in Reading coincide with other similar efforts elsewhere in the area. Locally, Stoneham will hold its own Recovery Fest event this coming weekend.