International Overdose Awareness Day has been recognized since 2001 to raise awareness of the impact of overdose, remember those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of those who have lost their loved ones to overdose. In the United States, we have lost more than 110,000 friends, family members, and neighbors to overdose—just over the last year. Governors have historically observed this day to remember the lives of those lost, challenge stigma, highlight resources, and acknowledge the impact of overdose on communities throughout their states.
The theme for this year’s International Overdose Awareness Day is “recognizing those people who go unseen.” For the more than 100,000 people who fatally overdosed over the past year, there are several hundred thousand parents, children, partners, friends, communities, and others deeply grieving. There are health care and support services workers who are coping with these losses daily while continuing to serve their communities. There are also first responders, professional as well as laypersons, carrying the emotional burden and cumulative trauma from responding to one or many overdose emergencies. While impacting certain communities more than others, these…
