Across the United States families are releasing black balloons on Thursday to honor those who died due to overdose — a tradition that was started in Massachusetts.
March 6 is known as Black Balloon Day, which is used to remember those lost to overdose, raise awareness for harm prevention and support those impacted by substance use disorder.
“Sharing our stories and bringing the community together through shared experiences helps break the stigma and drive real change,” Overdose Lifelife wrote.
The day began after Greg Tremblay, of Lynn, a father of four, died of an overdose when he was 38 years old on March 6, 2015.
Diane and Lauren Hurley, two of his family members, began Black Balloon Day in remembrance of Tremblay, the website states.
“Two weeks before Greg’s anniversary, we put out an invitation asking people to hang a black balloon outside their residence or business if they had lost someone to substance use,” Diane Hurley told Itemlive. “On March 6, 2016, 42,000 people participated. It just took off.”
In 2019, Black Balloon Day became a nonprofit, raising money to help people in recovery by covering their first month’s rent in sober living homes, the news outlet reported.
Diane Hurley has also continued working to spread the efforts in Massachusetts.
Lynn Commons is participating in Black Balloon Days with signs and black balloons as a viewing memorial from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 6.
While some people release or use physical balloons, others opt to participate virtually by sharing photos of their balloons or balloon graphics.
“Always loved, always remembered,” Billerica Selectwoman Dina Favreau shared with a photo of a black balloon.
