Police and Fire Take Part in Black Balloon Day

Swampscott, MA - On Sunday March 6, the Swampscott Police and Fire Departments are taking time to remember the people from town that have lost their lives from a heroin overdose and those affected by the ongoing opioid epidemic by taking part in Black Balloon Day.

This concept was created by a mother and daughter in Peabody. On Sunday, those affected by the drug epidemic should hang a black balloon, take a picture of it and post it on social media with the #blackballoonday.

Within the past several years the Swampscott Police Department has responded to a number of opiate overdose related calls and has had a number of residents lose their fight with drug addiction. In the last 12 months, the department recorded 18 calls involving drug overdoses, four of which were fatal. Police officials say they are focused on this issue and are committed to helping find ways to battle this ongoing epidemic.

The police department thanks Stop & Shop for donating the balloons and to the Salem MA GRASP Chapter for providing grief recovery to families who have lost a loved one to this battle.