08/31/2026
This is a heavy day for many. Knowing someone who has experienced an overdose can deeply affect friends, family members, and witnesses. This type of crisis often triggers a complex mix of emotional, mental, and physical reactions - with impacts that echo well beyond the event.
For those who have experienced an overdose loss, surviving loved ones can feel as if they’ve been thrown into a crater of grief; laden with both stigma and shame. With tremendous compassion for those affected, the conversation must still continue.
Worldwide, over the last 20-years drug overdose deaths have increased significantly, predominantly driven by the effects of opioids, often in combination with other drugs.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the estimated number of people using opioids globally doubled from 26-36 million people in 2010, to 61.3 million in 2020.
Overdose affects everyone. From grieving families and friends, to first responders - the impacts of overdose are far reaching and fall indiscriminately.
While this day is still needed, it doesn’t have to be forever. We can build a world where fewer lives are lost.