Massachusetts loses six people a day to the opioid epidemic, according to Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan. That number alone is staggering, but when you multiply that figure, it's hard to imagine a family in the state who hasn't been impacted by addiction and overdoses.
The 2069 opioid project, which consists of small lawn signs reading "#2069," points to the total number of opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts in 2016. It was launched by Rev. Ron Tibbets of Trinity Episcopal Church in Wrentham.
"The project began as a small outreach program to raise awareness in our community, and we had no idea it would grow to this magnitude across state," he said.
Tibbets says there are now 1,100 signs posted statewide that were distributed by 15 partners, and a bumper sticker campaign has also begun.
According to Tibbets, the goal is to bring together people from all walks of life who have been affected by the opioid epidemic.
“Our goal is to ... acknowledge the loss, to understand the impact personally to families, to siblings, and expand that out those people like first responders, people who, on a daily basis, provide the efforts to save lives and are there when lives are lost,” says Tibbets.
This Saturday, Tibbets and other members of the 2069 project are holding an opioid awareness rally on the Wrentham Town Common at 10 a.m.
To listen to the entire interview, click on the audio player above.
