Join us as we observe International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2022.
According to Penington Institute, the organization responsible for this international initiative:
“International Overdose Awareness Day aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It is also an opportunity to stimulate discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy. International Overdose Awareness Day acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or suffered permanent injury due to drug overdose. International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message about the tragedy of drug overdose death and that drug overdose is preventable.”
Overdose Facts
- North America continues to experience the highest drug-related mortality rate in the world, accounting for 1-in-4 drug-related deaths globally (Penington Institute).
- In 2020, there were 91,799 drug overdose deaths in the United States. Opioid overdoses accounted for more the majority of those deaths (CDC).
- In Georgia in 2019, overdoses involving any opioid accounted for 4,858 emergency department visits, 2,174 hospitalizations and 860 deaths. (Georgia DPH)
Get to know more facts and figures in our frequently-updated blog post, Raising Awareness: Opioid Overdose Facts.
How to Participate in International Overdose Awareness Day
Penington Institute offers several resources to guide you through observing International Overdose Awareness Day:
- Overdose Facts and Statistics
- Support Kit for Planning Your Event
- Campaign Resources (Social media graphics, posters, fact sheets, etc.)
- Register Your Event
You can get additional resources and see what people across the globe are doing to raise awareness and reduce stigma by searching #EndOverdose, #OverdoseAware and #IOAD on social media.
See our blog post, Overdoses, Naloxone and the Georgia 911 Medical Amnesty Law, for in-depth information on the signs of a drug overdose and how you should respond in an emergency situation to save a life. For an informative one-page reference guide to additional information, see our Inspired newsletters on Prescription Drug Misuse, Cleaning Out the Medicine Cabinet and Prescription Medication Storage & Disposal.