By Tiffany Williams –
BOSTON – Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) today joined in remembering those who have died from opioid overdoses as International Overdose Awareness Day approaches on Sunday, August 31. The City extended condolences to families and neighbors affected by the crisis, while highlighting ongoing initiatives to expand access to lifesaving care and harm reduction services ahead of National Recovery Month, beginning September 1.
In Boston, BPHC reports that fatal overdoses fell 38% in 2024 compared with 2023, marking the lowest number of deadly overdoses in the city since 2015. To honor lives lost, Boston City Hall will be lit purple on August 31, and more than 20,000 purple flags will be planted on Boston Common. The flags memorialize those who died from overdoses across Massachusetts in the past decade.
Mayor Wu emphasized the importance of supporting residents living with substance use disorders. “I’m grateful for the life-saving work the Boston Public Health Commission and departments across the city are doing to reduce stigma and boost services and treatment,” she said. BPHC Commissioner Dr. Bisola Ojikutu added, “The best way we can honor the lives tragically cut short by the opioid crisis is by continuing to increase access to harm reduction services and treatment for those living with substance use disorder.”
BPHC has expanded public health vending machines and naloxone kiosks throughout the city, including Boston’s first outdoor vending machine in East Boston. Last year, the Commission provided $1 million in grants to community organizations focused on overdose prevention and outreach. Between January and June 2025, local agencies reported more than 1,200 client engagements and distributed over 2,100 doses of naloxone.
Recovery-focused events are scheduled throughout September, including a cookout in Franklin Park on September 19, Nubian Square Recovery Day on September 25 at the Roxbury Branch of the Boston Public Library, and the Recovery Month Celebration Day on September 26 at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common. The City encourages residents to access harm reduction and treatment programs such as AHOPE and PAATHS for ongoing support.
Connecticut leaders also recognized International Overdose Awareness Day, reiterating the state’s commitment to combating the opioid epidemic. Governor Ned Lamont noted that while overdose deaths declined slightly in 2024, “every life lost to overdose forever alters the life of an entire family and countless loved ones.” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Attorney General William Tong, Comptroller Sean Scanlon, and U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy echoed calls to expand treatment, prevention, and harm reduction programs.
Connecticut has seen a 26% decline in overdose deaths since 2023, with 989 fatalities reported in 2024. State officials highlighted the role of synthetic opioids like fentanyl in the majority of these deaths and underscored continued investment in prevention and recovery services, including $110 million directed by the Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee. Resources are available through the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, LiveLOUD.org, and CT Addiction Services.
International Overdose Awareness Day is a global campaign to remember those lost to overdose, reduce stigma, and support families and communities affected by addiction. Both Boston and Connecticut emphasized the ongoing need for compassion, access to treatment, and public awareness in confronting the opioid crisis.
For more information on Boston recovery resources, visit boston.gov/recovery. Connecticut residents can access support at ctaddictionservices.com or by calling 1-800-563-4086.