Over 100 people turned out for the 2010 Opioid Overdose Candlelight Vigil held tonight at 7pm. Hillary Dubois of the Brockton Mayor's Opioid Overdose Prevention Coalition hosted the event which also was sponsored by Learn to Cope, BAMSI's C.O.P.E. Center, High Point Treatment Center and several other community based groups that coordinate in the reduction of Opiate Overdose thru the use of Narcan and Community intervention, Treatment and Education.
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| Reverend Keith Jackson giving the Blessing |
State Representative Christine Canavan and Brockton Mayor Linda Balzotti were in attendance and the Mayor was the first to speak giving statistics on the use of the Community Based Narcan project which allows a citizen to administer Narcan, a medication nasal spray used to treat overdose victims of Opiates. Since the introduction of the program overdose deaths in Brockton have declined.
After the Mayor spoke Ms.Dubois introduced several people who lost family members to this disease. They each spoke of their tragedy and the message of hope and how they live each day. Jackie a member of Learn to Cope was followed by Suzanne also a member of Learn to Cope and Bob one of the Founders of the Southeastern Massachusetts Chapter of Grief Recovery After Substance Passing(GRASP).
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| Mayor Balzotti and State Representative Canavan |
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| Drug Education literature and Narcan Education |
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learn2cope.org
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After the family members spoke many people in the crowd were crying and hugging each other giving each other support. As the night came to a close, the wind would pick up now and then and the coolness of the night was upon us that allowed for people to sit and listen without the humidity that has been with us lately and was liken as a sign that this was meant to be by one of the members of the gathering.
The crowd listened to a young man sing a song he had written about a friend of his that has died from this disease and as the evening came to a close everyone was asked to light their candles in memories of loved ones who are Sons and Daughters and Brothers and Sisters, Fathers, Mothers, Rich and Poor, Great and Small all who have left this earth and have brought over 100 hundred of us together, some complete strangers who for one hour stood in harmony and unity and gave us a gift tonight of peace and love and a spirit that through there death someone Else's life will be saved.
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| Lighting of Candles |
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| Lighting of Candles |
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| Two of the Founders of GRASP |
