International Overdose Awareness Day

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is the world’s most extensive annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died from an overdose, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind. 

The IOAD 2023 theme “Recognizing those people who go unseen” acknowledges people in our communities affected by overdose but might go unseen in the crisis.

An Inspired Idea

International Overdose Awareness Day was initiated in 2001 by Sally J Finn at The Salvation Army in St Kilda, Melbourne.

Since 2001, many community members as well as government and non-government organisations have held events to raise awareness and commemorate those who have been lost to drug overdose.

Penington Institute

Penington Institute connects lived experience and research to improve community safety in relation to drugs, including alcohol and pharmaceuticals.

We focus on promoting effective strategies, frontline workforce education, and public awareness activities. Our work has a positive impact on people, health and law enforcement systems, the economy, and society. An independent voice of reason on drug policy, we are a straight-talking ally for practical insights, information, and evidence-based action for people in need.

Aims

International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s most extensive annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind.

The campaign raises awareness of overdose, which is one of the world’s worst public health crises, and stimulates action and discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy.

The campaign also acknowledges the profound grief felt by families and friends whose loved ones have died or suffered permanent injury from a drug overdose.

International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message about the tragedy of drug overdose death and that drug overdose is preventable.

The goals of International Overdose Awareness Day are:

• To provide an opportunity for people to publicly mourn loved ones in a safe environment, some for the first time without feeling guilt or shame.
• To include the greatest number of people in International Overdose Awareness Day events, and encourage non-denominational involvement.
• To provide information about the issue of fatal and non-fatal overdose.
• To send a strong message to current and former people who use drugs that they are valued.
• To stimulate discussion about overdose prevention and drug policy.
• To provide basic information on the range of support services that are available.
• To prevent and reduce drug-related harm by supporting evidence-based policy and practice.
• To inform people around the world about the risk of overdose.