International Overdose Awareness Day

A mother raising awareness to overdoses after losing her son to a drug overdose in 2013

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD or Overdose Day) is a global event held on 31 August each year since 2001.[1] Its purpose is to raise awareness of overdoses, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths and acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends.[2] The first day, held in 2001 in Australia,[3] saw 6,000 silver ribbons distributed across the country and into New Zealand. Since then the day has grown and is recognized in over 40 countries. So too, sadly, has the death toll from overdose continued to rise, particularly in North America.[4]

The silver ribbon and the colour purple are representative symbols of the International Overdose Awareness Day. "Time to remember. Time to act" is the slogan used by campaigners.

  1. ^ Wallace, Bruce; MacKinnon, Karen; Marcellus, Lenora; Pauly, Bernadette (2021). "International Overdose Awareness Day: a time to remember, a time to act, a time for evidence". JBI Evidence Synthesis. 19 (8): 1758–1759. doi:10.11124/JBIES-21-00220. ISSN 2689-8381. PMID 34400593. S2CID 237150055.
  2. ^ "Scotland's drug death toll could exceed 1,000 in 2018, group warns". Evening Express. 30 August 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-09-17. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Recovery is message of International Overdose Awareness Day". Mansfield News Journal. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  4. ^ Administration (SAMHSA), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (2022-08-31). "On International Overdose Awareness Day, HHS announces awarding of $79.1 million in overdose prevention grants". HHS.gov. Retrieved 2022-09-01.