When: International Overdose Awareness Day is held every year on August 31st, but we encourage everyone to celebrate it on the days surrounding it as well!
The Importance of International Overdose Awareness Day
If you are wondering what International Overdose Awareness Day is, we are here to help! International Overdose Awareness day is a day to commemorate and educate friends, families, colleagues, and communities about the dangers of overdose and how you can help. It was initiated in 2001 by Sally J. Finn at The Salvation Army in St. Kilda Melbourne in order to remember the lives that were lost due to overdose and to spread awareness so that future overdoses could be prevented. This day is a time to remember lost loved ones and a time to act and say something to get loved ones and community members help. If we work as a team, we can all help out the members of our community and save lives!
Ideas for International Overdose Awareness Day Activities
Generally, events for this day are either ceremonial or educational. You can choose to remember those that we lost by holding a ceremony in your community or by providing educational events that describe how others can help prevent an overdose and how it should be responded to. Both ways are great ways to get the community involved and create awareness.
Below are several ideas about how you can help generate awareness in your community!
- Hold a memorial service
- Open Mic Night
- Community Barbecue
- Tree Planting Service
- Create a banner to be signed
- Candle Lighting Ceremony
- Invite a speaker/singer
- Create/Hang Posters
- Get Awareness T-shirts made (see link above)
- Start a social media campaign/make a post
These are just a few ideas of ways that you can help make a difference. Follow this link to download resources for posters, t-shirts, social media graphics, and much more! Be the change in your community, and get started helping today!
How 7 Summit Pathways Can Help
At 7 Summit Pathways, we offer personalized support, medically-oriented, and evidence-based treatment during and after the recovery process. Our experienced and caring team works together to develop individual treatment plans to help you enjoy a meaningful, sober, and rewarding life.
If you have suffered from an overdose or any type of addiction, or suspect a family member or friend may be, we can help. Our Joint Commission Accredited Facility and staff will help patients develop a medically-based treatment plan in a private and intimate setting that will stay with patients forever, and it will help them strengthen their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Contact us today or schedule an appointment to see how we can assist you.