International Overdose Awareness Day
Wear silver or purple, attend an event or seminar, and help raise awareness about the prevalence of overdoses and how such events can destroy families.
Position your organization as a partner in harm reduction and community health awareness through educational campaigns and support initiatives on International Overdose Awareness Day.
- Share survivor stories and family testimonials to humanize the impact of overdose
- Host or sponsor a community awareness event featuring healthcare professionals and support resources
- Create educational content on overdose prevention, naloxone access, and treatment options
- Highlight your organization's commitment to mental health and addiction support services
International Overdose Awareness Day initiated in 2001 when Sally J. Finn suggested the idea while she was in the Salvation Army in Melbourne, Australia to her friend Peter Streker, a co-worker who was part of the Community and Health Development Program in Melbourne. According to Finn, this holiday acknowledges that, “drugs and the consequence of overdose are part of all our lives, and that there are repercussions from the death and injury of people which are felt across every socio-economic and cultural span of the world.” Since 2001, they worked together to create this holiday, and today, governments and organizations remember this holiday as a day to recognize a severe problem that needs to be solved.
International Overdose Awareness Day acknowledges the grief that families feel when they lose someone to overdose and the struggles that a family member suffers from after their incident. This holiday sends a few messages out to the public. Because overdose is a complicated and personal topic for many, this holiday aims to break down the fear and prejudice that is created by the stigmas of drug overdosing in society. Instead of bringing hate, it seeks to bring compassion and understanding to the families involved, and that suffer the consequences of overdosing.