Advocating for Hopeful Action on International Overdose Awareness Day

In advance of International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31), the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) is pausing to remember the lives lost to drug overdose in the United States — more than 90,000 deaths in 2024 alone. Each life cut short represents a family, a community and a story that deserved more time. Today is a solemn reminder of both the human cost of this crisis and the power we hold when we come together to advocate for thoughtful, evidence-based solutions to the U.S. overdose crisis.

How You Can Observe … and Act.

This International Overdose Awareness Day, advocates can move from reflection to action in three meaningful ways:

   1. Carry naloxone.

Naloxone — the medication that reverses an overdose — is an effective way to save lives. When used properly, it prevents death in 75-100% of drug overdoses. Keep a naloxone kit on hand, learn how to use it and show others how simple it is to save a life. You can find naloxone in your local community, or have it delivered directly to you, here.

   2. Understand — and support — your local recovery networks.

In 2023, more than 22 million Americans were in recovery from substance use disorder. Many harness their recovery and save lives through peer support. You can familiarize yourself with the resources in your community, such as peer recovery networks, addiction medicine specialists and outreach groups. When you know where to turn, you can guide someone in crisis to the help they need.

   3. Reach out to your elected officials.

Recent months have seen a flurry of activity at the federal level that will affect recovery services and overdose prevention. It’s hard to keep up — even for the most diligent advocates. You can reach out to your representatives and ask to support policies that expand treatment access, fund overdose prevention programs and support stigma reduction. Personal stories and clear asks make your voice powerful. You can learn more about our approach to advocacy on our new training online platform HATCH.

Beyond Today: Sustaining Momentum

International Overdose Awareness Day reminds us that grief and action can coexist. Carrying naloxone, speaking with policymakers and connecting with local supports aren’t one-day commitments—they’re the building blocks of an ecosystem that treats substance use with dignity, compassion and evidence. 

About GHAI’s work in overdose prevention.

GHAI’s Overdose Prevention Initiative works at the federal level to ensure every person affected by substance use has access to evidence-based treatment and harm reduction services. We focus on:

• Improving access to medications for opioid use disorder,
• Reducing disparities, inequities, and stigma in the addiction treatment system, and
• Supporting harm reduction approaches that save lives.

In 2022, our advocacy helped secure passage of the Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, expanding treatment capacity overnight. GHAI continues to pursue policies that will have a demonstrable effect on reducing overdose deaths, including providing treatment access in high-impact windows, such as in emergency rooms or during incarceration.

Learn more at https://www.advocacyincubator.org/overdose-prevention