Overdose is a heartbreaking public health crisis impacting communities worldwide. On August 31 this year, we mark International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), a day in which local communities come together in a global movement to remember those who have died or been impacted by drug overdose and call for change to end overdose.
Now in its 24th year, International Overdose Awareness Day is observed in more than 40 countries with more than 1,000 events held.
IOAD is convened by Penington Institute a public health non-profit which plays a crucial role in raising awareness about overdose and calling for evidence-based solutions on a global stage.
John Ryan, Penington Institute CEO, emphasizes the importance of international collaboration:
"International Overdose Awareness Day serves as a stark reminder that overdose is a global challenge," says John Ryan. "By uniting across borders, sharing knowledge, and implementing effective strategies, we can create a future where fewer – or better, zero – lives are lost to this preventable tragedy."
Global overdose rates have skyrocketed in the past 25 years. The situation is especially severe in the United States of America where nearly 110,000 Americans lost their lives to overdose in 2022. This was the second consecutive year of more than 100,000 overdose deaths in the USA.
Mr Ryan spoke about the importance of this day being for community connection and collective grieving, as well as calling for policy change that will end overdose.
“The number of communities that come together to mark this day has been growing year on year. This demonstrates the size of the issue that people are facing and the need for both healing and action. The situation is so severe that people are coming out and calling loudly for change to end this crisis,” said Mr Ryan.
“Our theme for 2024, ‘Together we can’, highlights the power of collective action when
communities stand together and demand change,” said Mr Ryan.
A full list of the IOAD 2024 events currently planned around the world can be found at. More events will be progressively added to this page in the lead up to August 31: https://www.overdoseday.com/events-2024/
MEDIA CONTACT: Warwick Green, w.green@penington.org.au
Find more information about the IOAD and the overdose crisis at overdoseday.com