International Overdose Awareness Day
Event
About
Resources
Event
Please join us for our International Overdose Awareness Day event that will be held at Chichibu Park in Antioch to remember loved ones who were lost to overdose.
There will be Recovery and social services resources. Overdose Rescue training & FREE Narcan.
We will end the event with a candlelight memorial.
Special Thanks to our partners: BACR, BAART, and NCAPDA.
About
What is International Overdose Awareness Day?
International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held on 31 August each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends, remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury due to a drug overdose.
International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable.
What Are the Aims of International Overdose Awareness Day?
- To provide an opportunity for people to publicly mourn loved ones in a safe environment, some for the first time without feeling guilt or shame.
- To include the participation of the highest number of people in International Overdose Awareness Day events and encourage non-denominational involvement.
- To give community members information about the issue of fatal and non-fatal overdose.
- To send a strong message to current and former people who use drugs that they are valued.
- To stimulate discussion about overdose prevention and drug policy.
- To provide basic information on the range of available support services.
- To prevent and reduce drug-related harm by supporting evidence-based policy and practice.
- To inform people around the world about the risk of overdose.
What is an Overdose?
An overdose means taking a quantity of a drug, or combination of drugs, that your body canot cope with. There are a number of signs and symptoms that show someone has overdosed, and these differ with the type of drug used. All drugs can cause an overdose, including prescription medication prescribed by a doctor. It is important to know the right amount and the right time to take your medication. It is also vital to know what drugs should not be mixed, and to seek help if you feel you are not in control of your drug use.
What are the signs of an overdose?
To learn about the signs of prescription drug abuse overdose and overdose response measures, please visit NCAPDA’s Education section on their website.
Show Your Support
Anyone can raise awareness by spreading information about overdose. Overdose is highly stigmatized, and that’s part of the problem.
The stigma surrounding drug use and overdose prevents many individuals from seeking help when they suspect an overdose. Countless deaths may be prevented by destroying this stigma, so people feel safe talking about their struggles and looking for help.
You can get involved by participating in:
- Educational events
- Candlelight vigils for overdose victims
- Walks to honor lost loved ones
- Fundraisers
- Naloxone (Narcan) training
- Overdose awareness t-shirts
- Sharing social media posts
- Distributing overdose fact sheets
- Commemorating someone by adding your tribute here
You can also wear and display symbols of overdose awareness. These symbols include silver badges, purple wristbands, and purple lanyards. Wearing these symbols demonstrates support for those who have suffered from an overdose and their loved ones. Moreover, it brings attention to the issues and has the potential to spark a conversation. They are also a reminder that every life is valuable.
Sources: International Overdose Awareness Day and NCAPDA
Resources
Facts and Statistics
Worldwide
According to the most recent World Drug Report, approximately 585,000 people died as a result of drug use in 2017.
Opioids account for the majority of drug-related deaths, and in most cases such deaths are avoidable.
Source: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) ‘World Drug Report 2020’
United States
North America continues to experience the highest drug-related mortality rate in the world, accounting for one- fourth of all drug-related deaths worldwide.
In April 2021, the Centers for Disease Control has estimated that the number of people in the United States who had died from overdose in the 12-month period to the end of September 2020 was 90,237.
Sources: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) ‘World Drug Report 2019’; The Centre for Disease Control ‘12 Month-ending Provisional Number of Drug Overdose Deaths’, as of April 4, 2021
Drug Information & Educational Resources
The resources below can be downloaded and used to spread the message to friends, family, colleagues, and your community to help prevent overdose. Please ensure that posters are displayed thoughtfully and responsibly so as not to be in breach of local by-laws.
All resources are courtesy of the International Overdose Awareness Day. For additional resources, please visit the International Overdose Awareness Day website and NCAPDA’s Awareness Tools page.
For information on reputable organizations and courses please visit NCAPDA’s Resources Links page .
Fact Sheets
Methamphetamines – A4 fact sheet
New Psychoactive Substances – A4 fact sheet
Event Organizer Support Kit:
Get Involved on Social Media:
Change your profile on Facebook or Twitter
Spanish Resources:
Someone you know can be affected by overdose – Spanish – A3 poster
