August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day. The day was established in 2001 as a campaign to increase awareness to end overdose and remember those who have died from overdose.
The goals of International Overdose Awareness Day are:
- 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 greatest 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 support services that are available.
- 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.
Overdose deaths increased by 28.5% during the 12 month period ending in April 2021 vs the same period in the previous years. During that period there were over 100,000 deaths.
Overdose occurs when the body cannot handle the amount of a drug or combination of drugs in its system. Most people immediately think of illegal drugs and a drug addict. Truth is overdoses happen with prescription drugs and alcohol in non-addict people. Some of the overdoes are intentional but some are accidental.
Overdoses in children are usually caused by improper storage of medications at home. You must keep medications out of reach of children. You must also dispose of unused or expired medications properly to prevent access to them in the trash by children or pets.
Use International Overdose Awareness Day to learn more about overdoses and overdose prevention. Also use it to remember those friends or family members that have died from overdose.
