VHRA has drafted a letter to Governor Phil Scott and members of the Vermont General Assembly requesting that the flag be flown at half-staff each year on August 31, beginning in 2026, in recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day.

This annual recognition would honor the Vermonters we have lost to overdose, acknowledge the families and communities who continue to grieve, and recognize the ongoing impact of the overdose crisis across our state.

The letter will be sent to Governor Scott as well as your district’s state representatives and senators through the Action Network platform. By signing on, your message will automatically be directed to your elected officials, all you need to do is add your name at the bottom. We encourage individuals to also personalize the letter by sharing why this recognition matters to them and their communities.

The language of the letter is still being finalized and may be updated before it is sent. We invite individuals, organizations, and community members who support this effort to add their name to the letter.

Together, we can send a message that every life lost to overdose matters and that these Vermonters, their stories, and their communities deserve to be remembered.