CHICOPEE — On Aug. 28, Chicopee honored overdose awareness month by raising a flag and show their support in the global campaign to end overdose.
Overdose Awareness Month is commemorated in August with overdose awareness week from Aug. 27 to Sept. 2 and International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31.
Vieau talked about how important the awareness month is to recognize.
He said, “It serves as a global campaign to raise awareness about the critical issue of drug overdose and its devastating impact on individuals, families and communities. International Overdose Awareness Day carries a profound significance by acknowledging not only those who have succumbed to overdose, but also the families and friends left behind to bear the weight of the loss.”
Chicopee Harm Reduction SSP Manager Antonio Roman from Tapestry was also there and Vieau talked about the great things each nonprofit organization that deals with overdoses and the opioid epidemic does.
Tapestry is a community-based healthcare that provides access with a stigma. Vieau said Tapestry does a mobile needle exchange program by going around Chicopee and other parts of Western Massachusetts
Vieau said, “I want to recognize entities like Tapestry for what they do and also those other nonprofit groups that are out there trying to make a difference. If we could remove that stigmatism and what’s really happening to these people who are impacted by addiction, we can hopefully make a difference in getting them the help they need because I do believe the resources are out there, we just have to keep working diligently to encourage those.”
According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, over 96,000 people die from drug overdoses in a year and opioids are a factor in seven out of every 10 overdose deaths. Drug overdoses have killed almost a million people since 1999.
In Massachusetts, there are 2,210 overdose deaths per year and the overdose death rate is 32.1 deaths out of every 100,000 residents. This is 55.07% higher than the national average overdose death rate.
Vieau thanked the Chicopee C3 unit for all the work they do trying to help those who need it.
He said, “I want to thank our C3 unit because they get to know a lot of those people who are potentially homeless, potentially fighting addiction every day and try to get them the help they need to become productive members of our society. I’m thankful for what they do.”
Vieau noted that Chicopee Police and Fire departments have policies in place that if someone is narcaned, someone from the city is at their house trying to get them help or provide resources and guidance to fight their addictions. “It’s scary what’s out there and people are willing to take that risk and frankly it’s a real epidemic and I’m glad we are making this awareness day something special,” he said.
Vieau also mentioned the only way to raise a flag at City Hall Plaza is a resolution from the City Council or proclamation from the mayor’s office.
He said, “I’ll proudly do this every year as long as I’m mayor to spread awareness that overdose awareness is something that’s really important and we want to make sure this message is heard loud and clear.”
Not only is Chicopee working on helping those who struggle with addiction, Vieau mentioned how it is a problem being discussed at the state level.
“We’re very fortunate to have six delegates that represent Chicopee and understand that there’s a real crisis out there with opioid abuse and that addiction is real. Overdoses happen all the time and we’re doing everything in our power to try and combat that and partnering with those nonprofit groups that are helping us every single day,” Vieau explained.
