Together We Heal: Overdose Awareness and Prevention in Indigenous Communities

🟣 A Flame, A Ribbon, A Story
Every flame carries a name. Each purple ribbon tells a story. On August 31st, Indigenous communities across Turtle Island lit candles for International Overdose Awareness Day. For the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe, this moment is not only remembrance—it is a call to action, a promise of healing, and a commitment to protect our circle.

📊 The Crisis in Numbers
The opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities across the United States. According to the CDC, more than 100,000 people died from drug overdoses in the U.S. in 2022 [1]. American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities experience the highest overdose death rates of any racial or ethnic group, with rates more than double the national average [2].

🌿 The Impact on Indigenous Communities
For Indigenous people, overdose is more than a medical crisis—it is a reflection of historical trauma, systemic neglect, and the lack of culturally respectful care. For the Wampanoag, it means families grieving, children losing parents, and elders carrying the weight of silence. Stigma often prevents open conversation, but healing begins when we bring pain into the light.

⚠️ Recognizing the Signs of Overdose
Overdose can happen to anyone. Warning signs include:
– Unusual sleepiness or loss of consciousness
– Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
– Blue or gray lips and fingernails
– Limp body or inability to wake
– Small, pinpoint pupils [3]

If you see these signs, call 911 immediately and administer Narcan if available.

🌎 Pathways to Prevention
Healing requires both cultural wisdom and modern tools:
– Narcan (naloxone): a life-saving medicine that can reverse opioid overdoses—available free at the Tribal Office and through many pharmacies [4].
– Community circles: Elders remind us that we heal together, not in isolation.
– Breaking stigma: Wearing purple ribbons, sharing stories, and offering compassion without judgment.
– Traditional practices: Cedar, sweetgrass, and drum circles reconnect us to land, spirit, and each other.

💜 What You Can Do
– For yourself: If you are struggling, know you are not alone. Reach out to the Outreach Coordinator, join support groups, or seek help through the resources below.
– For loved ones: Learn the signs of overdose, carry Narcan, and listen without judgment.
– For the community: Join us in lifting stigma, honoring those we lost, and protecting the next generation.

📌 Resources for Overdose Awareness & Prevention
1. SAMHSA’s National Helpline (24/7): 1-800-662-HELP (4357), www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
2. SAMHSA Native Connections: www.samhsa.gov/native-connections
3. CDC – Tribal Opioid Overdose Prevention: www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prevention/tribal.html
4. National Indian Health Board – Opioid Crisis Response: www.nihb.org/behavioral_health/opioids.php
5. Crisis Text Line (24/7): Text ‘NATIVE’ to 741741, www.crisistextline.org/native

🌅 Closing
Every flame carries a name. Every ribbon carries a story.
Together, we heal.

Footnotes:
[1] CDC, Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts, 2022.
[2] CDC, Drug Overdose Death Rates by Race and Ethnicity, 2023.
[3] NIDA, Signs of Opioid Overdose.
[4] SAMHSA, Naloxone: The Opioid Reversal Drug that Saves Lives.