August 30th is recognized as National Grief Awareness Day in the United States.
August 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), a global, annual campaign to end overdose. We come together to remember the lives lost to overdose, support those still struggling, and take meaningful action toward change.
What is an overdose?
An overdose happens when a person has more of a drug, or a combination of drugs, than their body can handle.
Taking several drugs at once increases overdose risk. Most accidental overdose deaths happen when several drugs (including alcohol) have been taken.
Not all overdoses lead to death – but even non-fatal overdoses can have significant psychological and health impacts on a person, including brain damage and damage to other vital organs.
Naloxone can reverse an overdose from opioids, including heroin, illegally made fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, and prescription opioid medications. Often given as a nasal spray, naloxone is safe and easy to use.
Anyone can carry naloxone, give it to someone experiencing an overdose, and potentially save a life.
You can’t use naloxone on yourself. Let others know you have it in case you experience an opioid overdose.
Info from CDC Overdose Prevention.
