THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 18, 2022 Page 11 Stop the Stigma Day a huge success Special to The Advocate O n Wednesday, March 9, 2022, Malden Overcoming Addiction (MOA) held their annual Stop the Stigma Day, which originated in 2016. A new organization at the time, MOA, under the guidance of President Paul Hammersley started the awareness day with the goal of putting an end to the stigma surrounding substance use disorders. This year MOA brought the “Stop the Stigma Day” into all the Malden Public Schools and the local private schools, Cheverus and Malden Catholic. In some schools students made posters and signs supporting the elimination of stigma. All the schools made time for guest speaker Dana Brown, who asked all students and staff for their support in ending the stigma attached to addiction. Students and staff across the schools wore blue ribbons provided by MOA. Using social media as a platform, community activists, first responders, citizens and nonprofit groups across Malden promoted the day with the hashtag #Maldenstopthestigma. Many posted pictures showed the blue ribbons they wore to support the cause. MOA is a community partner whose mission is to connect the community with addiction support and recovery services, remove the stigma of addiction and fight to eliminate overdose fatalities in Malden and surrounding communities. The annual MOA “Stop the Stigma Day” is about “leveraging the collective power of Malden’s community to bring attention to the stigma surrounding addiction.” The stigma associated with drug addiction prevents many from seeking the help, whether emotionally or physically, that they require. Students at the Cheverus School supported Stop the Stigma Day. Linden School students created Stop the Stigma paperwork and ribbons. Dana Brown picked one of the students to speak on Stop the Stigma Day at the Cheverus School. Students at the Ferryway School supported Stop the Stigma Day. Malden Overcoming Addiction (MOA) President Paul Hammersley along with MOA board members Mindy Tam, PJ Bell and Dana Brown are shown during the annual Malden Stop the Stigma Day on March 9. Linden School students supported Stop the Stigma Day. Malden Catholic students supported Stop the Stigma Day. Taking advantage of the first in-person Malden School Committee meeting since the November election, Vice Chairperson/Ward 5 School Committee member Adam Weldai snaps a “Stop the Stigma” selfie at the March 7 School Committee meeting. Pictured from left are Weldai and Malden School Committee Members Robert McCarthy Jr., Ward 2; Jennifer Spadafora, Ward 3; Dawn Macklin, Ward 4; Joseph Gray, Ward 6; Keith Bernard, Ward 7; and Sharyn Rose Zeiberg, Ward 8. (Advocate Photo/Steve Freker) Salemwood School students are shown on Stop the Stigma Day. Beebe School students supported Stop the Stigma Day. MALDEN TRANS NOW HIRING!!! CDL SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS, 7D DRIVERS & TAXI DRIVERS COMPETITIVE PAY OFFERED $17/HR - 7D DRIVERS $26/HR - CDL DRIVERS CALL TO INQUIRE - 781-322-9400 OR 781-322-9401 - ASK FOR DAVID OR ED
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