International Overdose Awareness Day: A Time to Remember, Act, Prevent

Communities worldwide can take action to prevent overdose deaths on Aug. 31 during International Overdose Awareness Day. NSC offers free training and resources to help workplaces and families respond to this crisis.

In 2024, about 80,000 people in the United States died from overdose. That’s double the rate of traffic fatalities for the same year and represents 220 neighbors, siblings, parents, coworkers and friends lost a day. In workplaces, overdose deaths from drugs or alcohol have risen 600% since 2011. They now make up one in 10 workplace fatalities. These are preventable tragedies, and we have the tools to stop them.

A Global Movement

International Overdose Awareness Day is the largest global campaign to end overdose, reduce stigma and honor lives lost. Launched in Melbourne, Australia, in 2001, it now spans more than 40 countries with thousands of events dedicated to saving lives.

How to Get Involved

Take action in your community:

• Honor lives lost by hosting or attending a memorial 
• Distribute naloxone and ensure others know how to use it
• Educate workplaces and communities with prevention resources 
• Share stories to break stigma and inspire action
• Light a candle, wear purple or post online to raise awareness

Tools to Help Take Action

NSC offers practical, life-saving resources:

• Naloxone First Aid Training: Make overdose response part of emergency planning
• Connect2Prevent: Start family conversations about opioid risks
• Impairment Recognition and Response Training for Supervisors: Spot and address impairment before harm occurs
• Opioid Overdose Response Program Implementation Guide: Build effective, supportive workplace policies and programs
• Naloxone Access for Workplaces: Convenient purchase options for workplace safety programs
• Substance Use Cost Calculator: Understand the impact on productivity, absenteeism and healthcare costs to gain organizational buy-in

NSC is also hosting a free webinar on Aug. 26. Voices for Change: An International Overdose Awareness Day Dialogue will help communities address stigma and strengthen response. 

A Call for Compassion and Preparedness

International Overdose Awareness Day is a time to remember those we’ve lost. It’s also a time to take steps so fewer lives are cut short. By combining compassion with readiness, we can reduce overdose deaths and build stronger, safer communities and workplaces.

Find an event or register your own at overdoseday.com. Explore more life-saving tools at nsc.org/overdoseawarenessday and nsc.org/respondready.