GREENFIELD — In an emotional evening organized to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day, several members of the community — most of whom had lived experience with substance use and overdose — shared their experiences in recovery and called for an end to the stigma that prevents others from seeking the same help.

“First and foremost, I am a woman in long-term recovery; I am a survivor of overdose, and I’m a family member of loss,” said Greenfield resident Sarah Ahern. “I’m not going to sugarcoat this. This day is hard for me, my family and my community.”

Similar events were held throughout western Massachusetts on Thursday, Aug. 31, to remember those who have died by overdose and to recognize the pain of families, friends and communities impacted by the opioid epidemic.

In 2022, there were 2,357 confirmed and estimated opioid deaths, according to the state Department of Public Health. While Hampshire and Franklin counties saw rates of fatal overdoses decrease — by 15.9% and 25%, respectively — Hampden County saw an increase of 6.6%.

“Every day, someone’s light goes out,” Ahern said. “Lost to the disease of addiction, lost to the pain of their suffering in silence, lost to the impact of stigma and discrimination, lost to the lack of access to vital medical services.”

And as long as the system remains broken, Ahern said, those losses will continue.

“As long as we … continue to co-sign these systems that tell us to wait in a detox waiting system for 8 hours, only to be told in the last hour there are no beds, our people will continue to die,” Ahern said. “As long as we co-sign providers who stigmatize and block access to vital emergency services, our people are going to die.”

Ahern’s words were echoed by many who spoke during Thursday evening’s vigil.

“We’ve all shared in this grief, we all share in the loss,” said Shannon Guin. “I’m here to show you … that the sadness can be channeled into this community and into change. … When do we look at this for the health care problem that it is and not just another name on a wall, not another remembrance? We’ve all been doing this way too long. Please, take this as an opportunity to be the change you want to see in this community. Sign petitions. Go to Congress. There are things you can do. I’m asking you, I’m begging you to … channel this grief and this collective loss into real community action.”

Several of those who spoke Thursday talked about the stigma surrounding addiction.

“There’s a tendency to pass judgment, even if we see someone else struggling. As humans, it’s not just substances we addict to,” said Dylan McGale, who lost a family member to an overdose. “We can addict to patterns of behavior and ideologies; we can addict to other people. … For any of us to pass judgment on another human for addiction would be ridiculous.”

Claire McGale, who serves as the peer leadership development coordinator at The RECOVER Project and was one of the organizers of Thursday’s vigil, shared her experience working with others in recovery, like herself.

“The people I know in recovery are the most brilliant minds that I know,” she said. “The fact that they’re trapped in the cycle of pain … is not any single one of their faults. The substances just keep that wheel going. It’s not why the substance; it’s why the pain?”

McGale said she’s happy to be in a position to do something that is not just a benefit to herself, but the community.

“If we’re going to make a difference anywhere, we have to release those brilliant minds from that endless cycle and give us a fighting chance,” she said.

Stacey Williamson, who is also in recovery, said people are dying because “we’re not pulling each other up.”

“We need to stick together — not criticize, not judge, but support,” she said. “Addicts don’t need to be locked up like animals, they need to be taught about their addiction. They can learn from it, move forward and learn how to live in society without using.”

The vigil concluded with a silent walk to the Episcopal Church of Saints James and Andrew on Federal Street, located across the street from The RECOVER Project.

 

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryE  Byrne.