Sudbury Will Hold First Overdose Awareness Event In 2024

SUDBURY, MA — Sudbury for the first time this year will join communities across the state in raising awareness about opioid overdoses around International Opioid Awareness Day.

The Sudbury event in early September will include addiction resources from groups like Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery (MOAR), Learn to Cope and Advocates. State Rep. Carmine Gentile will also be on hand to talk about action at the state level around substance use prevention.

In advance of the event, the town has planted some 2,100 purple flags on the green outside Sudbury Town Hall to memorialize state residents who died due to overdoses last year.

"The Sudbury Health Department is hosting Sudbury’s first Overdose Awareness Event, where we aim to reduce stigma around substance use and normalize conversations about resources towards recovery," the department said of the event. "Together, we can promote understanding, offer support, and take steps toward a healthier future."

Sudbury's event will run from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sept. 5 at the Grange Hall, 326 Concord Road. Sudbury's event will follow International Opioid Awareness Day on Aug. 31. There are nearly two dozen events planned to mark the international day across Massachusetts.