Saugus duo gets ‘social’ after OD deaths

SAUGUS – A new Saugus Facebook page is attracting a lot of attention recently after a rash of drug overdoses claimed the lives of six people with Saugus ties.Saugus residents Alison Riley and Don Zollo started Saugus We Care on Oct. 2, and in a little over two weeks more then 400 people have “liked” the page.?I started to see on Facebook that a lot of names were coming up of people that I had gone to school with ? within two weeks, there were six kids from Saugus who had overdosed and died,” said Riley.?I thought that was completely ridiculous, and I started getting really mad. I posted something on my personal page saying, ?I?m really tired of reading, ?Rest in peace so-and-so? every other day and seeing my classmates hurting from these people dying.?”With 20 overdoses in 2012, Saugus Police Sgt. Dave Gecoya said the town is on pace to stay at the 2011 toll of 25. Gecoya said there were 15 overdoses in 2010.?These recent overdoses are prior Saugus residents or prior Saugus alumni,” said Gecoya. “One was in Boston and others outside our jurisdiction. We don?t have the particulars regarding their deaths.”Gecoya said the drug problem is not just an issue in Saugus, but surrounding communities as well.?Right now we?re working jointly with other agencies in the area to try to combat the heroin wave that?s going through the North Shore,” said Gecoya. “Like everyone else, we?re budget strapped and doing our best. That?s why we?ve made alliances with state and federal agencies.”Zollo, a local comedian and a friend of Riley?s, said he hopes the Facebook page and socal media can “draw some acknowledgment and awareness” to a problem he thinks people don?t speak about publicly.?So many people are dying it?s crazy,” said Zollo. “No one talks about it publicly as drug deaths. It?s always, ?So-and-so died.? It?s just listed as a death. I understand the families don?t want it publicized, but how many people are going to die and it?s not acknowledged publicly?”So far Saugus We Care has posted links to addiction groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery along with a slew of comments and posts by other Facebook users.While she noted the page is still a work in progress, Riley said she hopes it can be a place where people can connect with one another while providing information and resources for addicts and their families.?It?s also if you just need someone to talk to,” said Riley. “It?s sad that it takes six people dying to shed some light on this.”Saugus Police Chief Domenic Dimella said he always appreciates help from the community when it comes to teaching young people about the dangers of drugs, something he said the department does on a regular basis.?We give talks at the schools and try to educate kids as early as possible about the dangers of oxycontin and drugs in general,” said Dimella.While the “likes” have been piling up online, Saugus We Care is also organizing in town and had its first meeting last week at Prince Pizzeria on Route 1 with more than 50 people.?I thought it was great for our first turnout,” said Riley. “It was fantastic because we had people like myself who just wanted to help and relatives of people who had just passed away 10 years ago who still want to stay involved. We had other kids in the room who were recovering addicts. I thought it was really great we had this mix of people.”Riley said she was planning to hold the meeting some time next month, but two people had passed away within one day of each other.?I said, ?This is crazy we can?t even wait a month,?” said Riley.Next on her agenda, Riley wants to have a Town Hall meeting with members of the School Committee, the Board of Health and the Board of Selectmen to discuss Saugus? drug problem.?What more can we do and what more can they do?” asked Riley. “I think we can do something and make a difference without having it become a money issue.”For more information, visit facebook.com/SaugusWeCareMatt Tempesta can be re