Today is International Overdose Awareness Day. It is a day where we honor the lives lost to overdose and stand with the families and communities left behind.
Overdose impacts every community, but it is preventable. By speaking openly, learning from one another, and treating each other with care and respect, we can build a world where fewer lives are lost.
In 2025, preliminary data shows, there were 978 lives lost to opioid related overdose deaths in MA. This is down 29% from the 1,590 lives lost in 2024 and down 59% from the high of 2,364 deaths in 2022. The steep decline in Massachusetts is primarily driven by massive state funding for harm reduction, widespread naloxone distribution, and expanded treatment access. Public health experts emphasize that there is no single cause, but rather a combination of synchronized statewide initiatives. I hope that my supporting testimony on Beacon Hill made even a tiny difference. And that carrying a Narcan kit with me might save a life.
I know this pain and sorrow firsthand. In 2016, shortly after his college graduation, I lost my son to an overdose. Since then, I have met countless families who have shared their loss and longing with me. Every life lost has a unique and precious story—and every single one deserves to be cherished. We miss them dearly.
– Art Desloges
Desloges is a Town Meeting member representing precinct 15.