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Date: 8/23/2023
WESTFIELD — The city will observe International Overdose Awareness Day on Thursday, Aug. 31, with events focused on information, prevention and remembrance.
Harm reduction counselors from Tapestry Health, which opened an office in Westfield last year, will be in the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Narcan training and information.
From 10 to 11 a.m. the Narcan training is geared for leaders of the faith community; from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., for members of the general public, and from 1 to 2 p.m. the Narcan training will take place in Spanish.
Tapestry counselor Robert Ortiz, who will be running the Spanish training, said no registration is needed. Tapestry staff will be giving out Narcan, showing individuals how to use it, and answering questions. Narcan is also always available at Tapestry’s Harm Reduction Clinic at 17 E. Silver St. in Westfield, which is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and can be reached at 413-241-5379. The clinic serves people actively using drugs, their partners and family members, as well as people at a high risk of having or seeing an overdose.
Tapestry will also staff one of the resource tables at the Overdose Awareness Day Vigil, 5:30-8 p.m. in the Park Square Green, which is run by the Westfield Health Department to remember “those we’ve lost as we raise awareness of overdose.”
Board of Health office manager Kim Sienkiewicz said as in past years, representatives from many different community resources will be present, along with speakers and music. The Wall of Healing, which remembers people who were lost to substance use, will be installed at the vigil.
Sienkiewicz said there will be three speakers this year, along with Mayor Michael McCabe and Board of Health Acting Director Debra Mulvenna.
“The evening will end with a closing prayer and lighting of candles in remembrance of all who overdosed,” she said.
Purple flags will be hung to represent the number of overdoses in Westfield to date in 2023.