Join us on August 31 to honor International Overdose Awareness Day.

This is a day of remembrance, tribute, reflection, and commitment to help end overdose deaths and injury. It is a day to remember, without stigma, those who have died while honoring those who still grieve.

Overdose is one of the world’s worst public health crises.

The international awareness campaign acknowledges the profound grief resulting from death or permanent injury caused by drug overdose, including that of friends, family, and community members.

At least 5,215 Ohioans fatally overdosed on drugs in 2020 according to new government data, a nearly 22% increase over 2019 numbers.
Fentanyl was involved in 81% of overdose deaths in Ohio in 2020, often in drug combinations. That same year, fentanyl-related deaths increased by 32%.
More than 93,000 people died of a drug overdose in the U.S. in 2020 — a record number that reflects a rise of nearly 30% from 2019. 110,000 people died of overdose in the U.S. in 2022.
Between May and September 2022, the DEA and its law enforcement partners seized 4.7 million deadly doses (Justice.gov, 2022).

Help us spread the message that overdose is a preventable tragedy.

Goals of International Overdose Awareness Day

Provide an opportunity for people to publicly mourn loved ones in a safe environment without feeling guilt or shame.
Prevent and reduce drug-related harm by supporting evidence-based policy and practice.
Include the greatest number of people in non-denominational involvement in related events.
Give community members information about the issue of fatal and non-fatal overdose.
Express to people that use drugs or have used drugs that they are valued.
Stimulate discussion about overdose prevention and drug policy.
Provide basic information on available support services.
Inform others about the risk of overdose.

Check out the helpful flyers/posters below courtesy of the International Overdose Awareness Day website.

Get Overdose Awareness Day Resources on the OverdoseDay.com website.