Saturday, August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD). IOAD is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those we’ve lost, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind. The campaign raises awareness of overdose—one of the world’s worst public health crises—and stimulates action and discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy.
This year’s IOAD campaign theme is “Together We Can.” While every individual action matters greatly, coming together as a local and international community creates powerful collective action. Collective action moves us with greater speed toward our shared goal of preventing, and ultimately, ending all overdoses. This year highlights the strength of coming together and standing in support of those connected to the tragedy of overdose.
Here at ETS, we come together for our communities in Western Washington. For people who use drugs and those who don’t. For heartbroken friends and family members of lost loved ones. For activists who fight for sorely needed policy reform. For healthcare and harm reduction workers. And for tireless advocates. Overdose can affect anyone, and we encourage you to remember the tenacity of our community and lean into the power that we have when we work together.
Narcan and safer use supplies save lives. Since the beginning of this year, ETS’s REACH team distributed 1,830 Narcan kits to more than 1,000 clients. The team also provided over 600 clients with overdose education and 22 clients reversed another person’s overdose. We’ve also given out 700 fentanyl test strips so clients and people who use drugs are more likely to stay alive until they’re ready to stop using and enter treatment. Last year alone, more than 1,200 people took that step and started treatment at ETS.
IOAD reminds us that collective action ends overdose. Together, we remember those we’ve lost and continue to fight for those who are still alive by advocating for harm reduction policies that are proven to prevent overdose, offering appropriate treatments for people who are ready, and reducing the stigma that often keeps people from seeking support.
Check out additional educational resources and much more on the IOAD website.
Are you in crisis? Call Crisis Connections 24-hour service line: 1-800-627-2211
Looking for substance use treatment near you? Go to https://findtreatment.gov/.
