Make a Difference on Overdose Awareness Day and Every Day
The Overdose Crisis has reached an all-time high in the United States. Last year we lost more than 107,000 people to a drug overdose. That means that someone died from an overdose roughly every 5 minutes. Today is International Overdose Awareness Day, and the goal of this day is to remember the thousands of lives lost to overdose and to spread the message that overdose is preventable.
Whether you have lost a family member, a friend, or even just know somebody who has lost someone they care about, we should all be aware of the real danger of overdose in our communities. Every neighborhood, city, and state has been impacted by the opioid epidemic. It is an equal opportunity crisis, because addiction does not discriminate.
You may be wondering what you can do to make a difference today (or every day for that matter) when it comes to raising awareness about the epidemic of drug overdose. Today we share several ways you can make an impact on International Overdose Awareness Day and each day moving forward.
Learn how to recognize an overdose. A person who is overdosing may have dilated pupils, chest pain, unsteady walking, may be taking shallow breaths or have difficulty breathing, they may be vomiting or may make gurgling sounds, their lips or fingers may be blue, and they may be disoriented or unresponsive to stimuli. If you suspect that someone is overdosing, call 911 immediately and stay on the line, following instructions until help has arrived. If you or someone close by is carrying the life-saving medication called naloxone (a medication designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose, often times referred to as Narcan), administer one dose to the individual while on the phone for assistance.
Visit a Project Dawn location and get trained on how to use naloxone (Narcan). Ohio has a network of naloxone distribution programs called Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) and you can find a location near you to get a take-home naloxone kit and get trained on how to use it. You never know when you may need it to save a life.
Dispose of your unused prescription medications. Most local communities offer drug disposal sites or drop boxes where you can drop off your unused prescription medications. Take a look at the U.S. Department of Justice’s website to see where you can safely dispose of the medications in your medicine cabinets. You can also request a free prescription disposal bag to dispose of any extra medications sitting around your house without even leaving your home.
Remember a friend or loved one. Light a candle in memory of someone you love. Post a photo or a share a fond memory as a tribute to a loved one you have lost to an overdose on your social media. It will help to honor their memory, it will help to get the conversation going that overdose can happen to any family, and it will help to break the stigma of addiction. We cannot be silent about an epidemic stealing our loved ones from us.
Message a parent, family member or friend who has lost a loved one to an overdose. Losing a loved one to an overdose is extremely heartbreaking for everyone who knows and loves this person. This day will be yet another difficult day for those missing a loved one who passed away from an overdose. Let them know you are thinking about them.
Find an Overdose Awareness Event in your area and attend. Overdoseday.com is dedicated to raising awareness to the overdose crisis and sharing Overdose Awareness Day events that are happening in the United States and worldwide. Check them out >here<.
Believe in HOPE. Not every overdose on opioids results in death. Naloxone has saved countless lives in our communities. An overdose does not have to be the end. It can be ONE. MORE. CHANCE. If you know someone who has suffered an overdose and survived, take every opportunity to offer help, offer hope, and offer compassion and love. Lives have been changed from the life-saving medication naloxone. You can read one amazing recovery story right here. Many people have turned their lives around after surviving an overdose. They have found long-term recovery and are living happy, fulfilling lives. Be their encourager, be their friend, and just be there for them. They can do it, but they can’t do it alone. Always remember, WE ARE HOPE UNITED!!
**If you have lost a loved one tragically to overdose, Hope United offers a support group called The Well for families who have lost a loved one to an overdose or addiction. Meetings are held currently on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month for support, understanding, and encouragement through your grief journey. Visit our support page to see the calendar of meetings and events.
***This blog has been updated as of 08/31/2022 and shared from a previous blog.***
