08/31/2026
Today, August 31st, is International Overdose Awareness Day—a day that carries such meaning for me. Today, we remember the lives lost to overdose. We remember that behind every statistic was a person—a son or daughter, a mother or father, a brother or sister, a spouse, a friend, a coworker, and someone who was deeply loved.
We also recognize the families and loved ones who continue to carry the weight of those losses. Grief from overdose can be incredibly complicated, and no family should ever have to grieve in silence or feel ashamed of how their loved one died.
For those who are still struggling with substance use, today is also a reminder that there is still hope. Recovery is possible. Treatment works. Compassion matters. Sometimes one conversation, one phone call, one person who refuses to give up on someone can make a difference.
As a person working in the field of addiction and behavioral health, I have the privilege and responsibility of being part of that hope. The work I do is not always easy. There are difficult days, setbacks, relapses, frustrations, and heartbreaking losses. But there are also second chances, reunified families, milestones in recovery, restored relationships, and people discovering lives they once believed were impossible.
Whether you work directly with patients or support them behind the scenes, your role matters. Every compassionate interaction, every appointment scheduled, every counseling session, every medication provided, every resource offered, and every moment we choose empathy over judgment contributes to the fight against overdose.
For some of us, this mission is professional. For others, it is deeply personal. And for many, it is both.
I have personally lost someone to overdose, Tom today I remember you today.
To anyone in recovery, I celebrate you and the courage it takes to continue choosing recovery one day at a time. And to everyone who continues showing up each day to help another person find their way—I appreciate you.
Today, we remember those we have lost.
We acknowledge the grief of those left behind.
We celebrate those in recovery.
We support those still struggling.
And we continue fighting for those who are still here.
Every life matters. Every story matters. And every person deserves the opportunity to recover.
