Overdose Awareness Day

Overdose Awareness Day History

Overdose Awareness Day is dedicated to reducing the stigma associated with drug overdose and addiction, while also raising awareness about prevention and treatment strategies. This day serves as an opportunity to remember those who have lost their lives to overdose and to express support for their friends and families. It emphasizes the need for further education, resources, and policy changes to tackle the growing overdose crisis.

Inaugurated by the Salvation Army in Australia in 2001, Overdose Awareness Day has spread worldwide to bring attention to the ongoing struggle against substance addiction and its lethal consequences. The event seeks to highlight the fact that drug overdose deaths are preventable, which makes the global toll of these tragedies all the more poignant.

Overdose Awareness Day has gained significant traction over the years, focusing on raising public knowledge and understanding of drug overdose risk factors, signs, and prevention strategies. It motivates individuals, communities, and policymakers to participate in drug education efforts, encourage safer prescribing and use, and advocate for broader accessibility of life-saving services such as naloxone and medication-assisted treatment. Overdose Awareness Day takes place annually on August 31.

Overdose Awareness Day facts

• 105, 303 drug overdoses took place in 2023 in the United States according to the CDC estimate, an increase of 2% from 2022. Opioids accounted for the majority of drug-related deaths, primarily fentanyl.
• In the U.S., most overdose-related deaths are linked to fentanyl, which is up to 100 times more potent than morphine. This significantly increases the risk of overdose, especially in illicit substances.
• According to the American Addiction Center, genetics accounts for about 40% to 60% of a person’s risk of addiction.
• The purple ribbon is the global symbol for Overdose Awareness Day. People worldwide wear a silver badge or purple ribbon to signify their loss and raise awareness.
• Research shows that more than 80% of overdose deaths are unintentional, which points to ignorance, misuse, or accidental consumption as the root cause.
• Different substances can cause different overdose symptoms, but common signs include shallow or irregular breathing, unconsciousness, vomiting, seizures, chest pain, and increased body temperature.

In the News and Trending for Overdose Awareness Day

Top things to do for Overdose Awareness Day

• Check out upcoming events sponsored by International Overdose Awareness Day. They host meetings for victims to spread awareness and tell their stories. They also hold vigil services.
• Donate to International Overdose Awareness Day and help spread awareness about overdose prevention.
• Watch a movie that explores drug addiction. Here are some examples:
  Beautiful Boy (2018)
  Flight (2012)
  Requiem For A Dream (2000)