One of the goals of the museum’s exhibition “Opium: The Business of Addiction” is to raise awareness and help fight the stigma of substance use disorder in our community. The Opioid Project is a way to do that by giving voice to residents of Milton who have been personally impacted by the opioid epidemic. 

Boston-based artist Nancy Marks and Health Story Collaborative founder Annie Brewster led local volunteers through an art and audio-storytelling workshop in which participants found a safe space to process their personal experiences. The products of that workshop include collages and recorded statements that contextualize and bring to life the human costs of the opioid epidemic. These are powerful stories. The finished work was displayed in the Wotiz Gallery at the Milton Public Library from Nov. 15 – Dec. 29, 2022. To view the interactive exhibit created during the Milton workshop, click here.  

The exhibition is a collaboration with The Milton Coalition. The Milton Coalition is focused on the prevention of substance use and the promotion of mental health among youth. The art and stories that came out of this workshop will continue to be used in the organization’s prevention and education work here in Milton.