We encourage you to use these resources to amplify overdose awareness and prevention efforts in your community. International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is observed each year on August 31. It is the world’s largest annual campaign to end drug overdose and remember those lost to overdose. Overdose affects people from all walks of life, and our efforts must reflect the many voices and communities impacted.
Communities worldwide organize memorial services, educational events, and advocacy campaigns. Overdose prevention is a CDC priority that impacts families and communities. NFP’s website is a hub for each campaign’s theme and provides resources for people and communities that want to hold events.
National Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month
Kim Lacey is based in San Luis Obispo, the traditional land of the Salinan people, in what is colonially known as Atascadero, CA, where she organized the SLO Overdose Awareness Day event last year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 932,000 people have died since 1999 from an overdose, unfortunately. You could get in touch with first responders in your area, perhaps ask them to do a demonstration of how to use naloxone, or do a question-answer session about overdose signs. If you aren’t sure, it is best to treat the situation like an overdose—you could save a life.
“Frequently, families are emotionally devastated and faced with the ongoing care of the person,” he says. While she is only one person, Zocco sends out hundreds of handmade cards worldwide every month to parents who have lost a child to overdose. Setterberg notes that their work has evolved in terms of how it meets the needs of Indigenous communities to manage the risk of overdose from opioid and fentanyl.
- The primary observance focuses on remembrance, awareness, and action.
- Utilizing evidence-based therapeutic approaches, the center aims to address the underlying causes of addiction through a multidisciplinary treatment plan.
- This partner toolkit provides free resources for you to use, including key IOAD messages, social media content, and more.
- We need to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes so that we can aid without judgement.
- Learn more about addiction, opioid use, or general substance abuse and how to deal with these crises in the wake of the COVID pandemic by booking a Workshop at TogetherWell.
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We provide multiple levels of care, from intensive outpatient programs to partial hospitalization, ensuring that each client receives the right level of support at each phase of their recovery. Supporting policy changes that expand access to addiction treatment and acquiring Narcan can also help create lasting habit changes. This data shows that overdoses impact all areas of our society, including our homes and workplaces. This data represents real people with families, dreams, and futures whose lives ended early; they are more than just random numbers on a list. This #IOAD25, we stand as #OneBigFamily calling for collective action to #EndOverdose. Share how you are #DrivenByHope against overdose and don’t forget to tag @CDCInjury on X.
“We want all to have access to NARCAN and fentanyl test strips and know how to get them and use them,” she says. To find recovery services near you, search the Treatment Locator tool hosted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This tool can show you treatment centers in your area and help you find the right health care for a loved one. Joining one of these awareness support groups can help you learn more about the risks of overdose, signs of overdose, how to respond, and how you can continue to show your support. CDC created a suite of naloxone materials and tools to support your efforts to co-prescribe naloxone when indicated. Research has shown that for every $1 invested in school-based education programs, there is a significant reduction of health care and law enforcement costs.
Mental Health Awareness Month: Practical Tips for Balancing Mental Health
Use our sample social content and partner letter to spread the word. Schedule content to remind your networks about International Overdose Awareness Day. This IOAD, we encourage unity and collective action against overdose.
- According to the World Health Organization, approximately 115,000 people worldwide died from opioid overdose in 2017.
- Visit our guide on Why People Relapse in Early Recovery—and How to Prevent It.
- But without talking about topics like harm reduction, the dangers of opioid overdose, and how to improve your behavioral health and end addiction — the issue will remain the same.
- NFP’s website is a hub for each campaign’s theme and provides resources for people and communities that want to hold events.
- In recent years, the overdose crisis has escalated, with opioids—both prescription and illicit—playing a central role.
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Ultimately, the day reinforces a dedication to ending overdoses and related harms by giving a voice to those affected by these devastating realities. CDC released the 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain. CDC developed resources and trainings for healthcare professionals to assist with implementing the guidance in their practices. We continuously develop materials so please check back periodically to see what is new.
The only good news here is that decreases in breast cancer deaths may be attributable to new research, earlier screenings, increased awareness, and new and improved treatment options. A free monthly virtual educational webinar to support our mental health providers. Our comprehensive approach to addiction treatment combines medical expertise with compassionate care. This combination offers our clients individualized treatment plans that address their distinct recovery needs without judgment.
This guide is ideal for banking exam aspirants to boost General Awareness with date-wise significance and frequently asked current affairs. Studies show that African Americans make up the largest group of minorities in need of organ transplants, yet they are consistently underrepresented in the donor pool. Pair that with statistics such as 13 people die each day while they wait for a transplant, and the picture looks pretty grim. Discover 6 August health observances your practice can leverage to engage patients, boost community outreach, and grow your business this summer. Help support TogetherWell and end stigma with your purchase of branded items. Each Wednesday our FREE workshops discuss topics like stress, anxiety and work-life balance.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 115,000 people worldwide died from opioid overdose in 2017. Each year, around half a million deaths worldwide may link to drug use, with around 70% related to opioids. As a person who has been in recovery for 8 years from 16 years of an addiction, Bergdall is passionate about recovery. “Multiple factors can trigger an overdose, it can happen to anyone. Community support is very important in order to make a change or an impact,” she says. Since many lives were taken by overdose during COVID-19, Zocco notes that more loved ones were looking for support during the pandemic.
Having Naloxone (Narcan), a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, in stock can make a significant difference. Narcan is available over the counter in many places and can be crucial in preventing overdose deaths. Of these drugs, opioids and alcohol tend to lead to the highest risk of overdose.
National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
This call should always be your first step, regardless of the circumstances you may find awareness and health observances observances drug overdose yourself in. Use #IOAD2025 #OverdoseAware #EndOverdose #OneBigFamily and #DrivenByHope to join the conversation and tag us at @CDCInjury on X (Twitter)! Quickly check whether they have naloxone on them or if a bystander is carrying the medication. Having your own nasal or injectable naloxone — that you know how to use!