WORCESTER, Mass. - "It's not easy, but I know I can make it."

Alberto Rivera has overdosed three times. On Overdose Awareness Day, he's remembering his friend, Pablo.

"A lot of friends passed away because of this disease. It's no joke,” Rivera said. “It's painful to heal that."

Rivera is one of many at the Hector Reyes House in Worcester looking to change their lives. 

Jesus Rosa is remembering his mentor and friend, Francisco, who also lost his life to drugs.

"I remember I came here the first time, and I didn't do it his way. The second time I did. I'm going on three years here,” Rosa said. “I feel good about myself."

State numbers show more than 2,000 people in Massachusetts died last year as a result of an opioid-related overdose.

City of Worcester's Health and Human Services commissioner, Dr. Matilde Castiel, says the state saw a 5% jump in overdoses, and Worcester is dealing with increasing numbers as well.

"We keep losing people from all communities, but the numbers are highest in the Black community and the Latino community,” Dr. Castiel said.

Dr. Castiel says the City's opioid task force is trying to address the problem, but the pandemic over the last 18 months has not helped the situation.

"They couldn't go out when we first started the pandemic,” Dr. Castiel said. “People are at home, they can't see their families. Those were issues."

Dr. Castiel says even with all of the resources and help, this problem won't be going anywhere unless we eliminate the stigma.

"We have to deal with it as a disease. And then we have to stop incarcerating,” Dr. Castiel said. “We really have to look at how we treat people and bring treatment to people."

Treatment so people like Rosa and Rivera can get a second chance at life.