Last year more than 1500 died of opioid related overdoses in Massachusetts. In June 2015 Arlington Police Department started the Arlington Opiate Outreach Initiative to help families and individuals suffering from substance abuse disorder. They partnered up with several local organizations such as Wicked Sober and the Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition to lower the number of fatal overdoses and help people recover from addiction.
On September 19, the police department organized an event at the Regent Theatre to introduce the resources available to the community and to encourage open dialogue around the issue of addiction. They invited the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation to screen “If Only”-a short film about a teenage boy’s struggles with prescription medication. The film highlights the importance of parental supervision as well as ways in which communities can help each other.
For more information please visit:
http://www.markwahlbergyouthfoundation.com/if-only/
http://wickedsober.com/
http://www.arlingtonma.gov/departments/police/opiate-outreach-initiative
