Purple flags were placed in remembrance of those in Somerville who have lost their lives to overdose took place last week, following the city’s passage of the Recovery Month resolution. — Photo by Bobbie Toner

By Jim Clark

At the latest meeting of the City Council, a resolution was put forward and passed designating September, 2019 as Recovery Month in Somerville.

The official text of the resolution reads as follows:

WHEREAS, Behavioral health is an essential part of health and one’s overall wellness; and

WHEREAS, Prevention of mental and/or substance use disorders works, treatment is effective, and people recover in our area and around the nation; and

WHEREAS, Preventing and overcoming mental and/or substance use disorders is valuable to individuals, families, and the community at large; and

WHEREAS, Increasing awareness reduces barriers to accessing treatment and support and increases the likelihood of seeking assistance for recovery; and

WHEREAS, People in recovery achieve healthy lifestyles, both physically and emotionally, and contribute in positive ways to their communities; and

WHEREAS, We must provide information and resources to support family and friends of people with mental and/or substance use disorders, addiction impacts the entire family; and

WHEREAS, According to the most recent data in the 2018 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, 31.9 million people aged 12 or older used an illicit drug in the past 30 days, approximately 1 in 10 Americans overall. We recognize the need to continue to implement preventive measures, information to recognize warning signs and symptoms, and resources to guide those in need to appropriate treatment and recovery support services; and

WHEREAS, From 2014 to 2018, there have been 77 confirmed fatal overdoses of Somerville residents; and

WHEREAS, Given the serious nature of this public health problem, we must continue to reach the millions who need help recovering from addiction to substance use; and

WHEREAS, National Recovery Month promotes the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for substance use and mental disorders, celebrates people in recovery, and lauds the contributions of treatment and service providers and promotes the message that recovery in all its forms is possible, and

WHEREAS, The City of Somerville’s Fire Department and Police Department have continued these efforts by carrying Naloxone (Narcan) as a method to reduce the number of fatal opioid overdoses; and

WHEREAS, The City of Somerville’s Health and Human Services Department will continue to distribute Naloxone and proactively train community members on how to understand, recognize, and respond to a potential overdose; and

WHEREAS, As of August 22, 2019, the City of Somerville’s Health and Human Services Department has trained a total of 212 Somerville residents, businesses, and staff while distributing 121 individual doses of Naloxone; and

WHEREAS, The City of Somerville will recognize those Somerville residents who have lost their lives to overdose; and

WHEREAS, The City of Somerville will hold a memorial program on Thursday, August 29, 2019 at 5:07 p.m. (reflecting the seven Somerville residents in 2018) to increase awareness of those who have lost their lives to overdose; and

WHEREAS, The City of Somerville will light City Hall purple on Thursday, August 29, 2019 to join other communities across the nation in recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, in remembrance of those individuals who have lost their lives to overdose; and

WHEREAS, To help more people achieve and sustain long-term recovery, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Somerville community groups committed to recovery work, and the City of Somerville invite all residents of Somerville to participation in National Recovery Month; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, That we, the Somerville City Council, do hereby resolve that the month of September 2019 shall be Recovery Month in Somerville and call upon the people of Somerville to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities and ceremonies to support this year’s National Recovery Month’s 30th Anniversary.

The resolution preceded a ceremony Thursday, August 30, to place purple flags in remembrance of those in Somerville who have lost their lives to overdose, to support those left behind, and to reaffirm our community’s commitment to ending this epidemic. The event was held outside City Hall.

Attendees were given 156 purple flags to place in memory of the 156 Somerville residents lost to overdose since 2000 and one larger flag for all those lost in previous years.

On behalf of the community, City Hall was also lit after the ceremony with purple light and will remain so until September 5, to remember those lost and to raise awareness that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable.