Tapestry Holding Overdose Vigils for International Overdose Awareness Day

FLORENCE — In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day, Tapestry will be holding two candlelight vigils.

The first vigil will take place at Pulaski Park in Northampton on Tuesday, Aug. 28. The event starts at 2 p.m., with the vigil program beginning at 6 p.m. The event is co-hosted by the New England Users Union and the city of Northampton. Several other support service groups and organizations will be participating at this event.

The second vigil will be held on Thursday, Aug. 31 at the Central Public Library in Holyoke at 6 p.m. This event is co-hosted by Hope for Holyoke. Safe Shape, a public health art exhibit, will be on display for public viewing, and Narcan training and other resources will be available during both events.

In Massachusetts, there were 2,016 unintentional deaths from opioid-related overdoses in 2017, according to the state Department of Public Health. This is an 49{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} increase over 2014. There were 13 overdose deaths in Holyoke last year, and six in Northampton. Tapestry provides overdose-prevention education and access to Narcan, medication that can help reverse an opioid overdose, to people likely to witness or experience an overdose. Between July 2017 and June 2018, the organization provided 3,817 Narcan kits to people across Western Mass.

For more information on Tapestry overdose-prevention trainings and how to receive one, visit www.tapestryhealth.org.