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The world's largest campaign to raise awareness about overdose, honour lost lives, lessen stigma, and motivate action to prevent future harm is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), which is observed annually on August 31. Multiple campaigns and policies are flagged off globally every year on this day to help, support, educate and raise awareness about the adverse effects of overdose on the body.
"One Big Family, Driven by Hope" is the theme for 2025.
The theme for this year emphasises that overdose impacts not just individuals or families but entire communities. Overdose destroys a household, but it also destroys the larger social network of friends, neighbourhoods, and society as a whole. The takeaway is that while we are all grieving, we are also all capable of healing and making changes. Let's find out more about the importance of this day through this blog and the significant questions it raises about the health of our loved ones, our connections and our depth of awareness about the medicines we are consuming every day!
Synopsis
Why Overdose Awareness Matters
Overdoses from prescription drugs, alcohol, or illegal substances can all be avoided. However, stigmatisation causes many people to suffer in silence. IOAD works to lessen stigma, promote life-saving laws and harm reduction programmes, and educate people on how to recognise and respond to overdoses. The day also encourages us to reconsider our connection with our loved ones and ponder how strong our bond is with our loved ones! Is it strong enough that they can feel safe to ask for help and support in case they are suffering?
Understanding Causes of Overdose
1. Excessive Dose or Polydrug Use
When someone consumes more drugs, or a combination of drugs, than their body can metabolise, they are said to have overdosed. Alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, and stimulants are common combinations that can intensify cardiac or respiratory suppression.
2. Opioids
Among the most common causes of fatal overdoses are opioids, which include heroin, prescription painkillers (such as morphine, codeine, and tramadol), and synthetic drugs. These substances frequently cause dangerously low breathing levels.
3. Tolerance and Relapse
Tolerance declines following abstinence periods (such as those following rehabilitation or incarceration). Resuming previous levels of use can quickly result in overdosing. Benzodiazepines and other long-acting drugs can also remain in the body for a long time, increasing the risk when taken with opioids later on.
4. Stigma & Underlying Mental Health Issues
Substance abuse frequently co-occurs with mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, trauma, and others. These illnesses may cause people to put off or avoid getting timely assistance.
Remedies and Prevention Strategies
Recognise the Signs
Signs of an opioid-type overdose include:
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Slow, weak, or absent breathing.
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Pinpoint pupils.
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Unresponsiveness, limp body.
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Snoring or gurgling noise, cold/clammy or discoloured skin (blue/grey lips or fingertips).
Maintain breathing by placing the person on their side, performing rescue breathing or CPR as needed. Stay with them until help arrives.
Evidence-Based Treatments
Medication‑Assisted Treatment (MAT) significantly reduces overdose risk by 38–59% depending on therapy, especially when combined with counselling or peer support. Programs offering needle exchanges, social support services, and community-based recovery networks improve health outcomes and reduce deaths.
Reduce Stigma, Increase Mental Health Care Access
Encourage compassionate, stigma-free language and communities that support people with substance use disorders (SUDs). Integrate screenings for mental health conditions and substance use into routine healthcare visits to identify people at risk early. Every life is precious and should be heard and supported if in need; as most cases of depression, loneliness and overdose can be avoided if we create a safe space for our loved ones where they can share their concerns and worries without getting judged or stigmatised.
A Shared Mission: Community & Hope
Under the 2025 IOAD theme “One Big Family, Driven by Hope”, the call to action is clear: we are all interconnected in both the pain of overdose and the journey toward recovery.
By partnering across healthcare, harm reduction advocacy, communities, families, and policymakers, we can:
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Remember loved ones lost.
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Educate ourselves and others.
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Empower individuals with resources.
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Create systemic change that sustains hope.
Conclusion
Let us keep in mind that every statistic represents a real person—a friend, family member, or member of the community, as we commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day. In addition to honouring those who have passed away, this day serves as a call to action to end stigma, increase awareness, and support life-saving laws and procedures. We all have a part to play in preventing overdose and creating a more secure and compassionate world, whether that part is advocacy, education, or compassion. Our efforts can transform sorrow into change and make sure that no more lives are lost to something so avoidable if we come together, motivated by the 2025 theme "One Big Family, Driven by Hope." Seek a consultation with our expert today. Book an appointment now!
FAQ's
An overdose happens when a person takes more of a drug (prescription, illicit, or alcohol) than their body can safely handle. It can lead to serious health complications, unconsciousness, or death if not treated promptly.
Overdoses can be caused by:
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Opioids.
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Prescription drugs (e.g., benzodiazepines, antidepressants).
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Alcohol.
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Stimulants (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine).
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Over-the-counter medicines (e.g., paracetamol, antihistamines in high doses).
Signs vary depending on the substance, but can include:
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Difficulty breathing or slow/irregular respiration.
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Unresponsiveness or unconsciousness.
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Vomiting or gurgling sounds.
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Blue or pale lips and fingertips.
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Seizures or chest pain.
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Extreme confusion or agitation.
Use medications only as prescribed:
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Avoid mixing drugs and alcohol.
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Store medicines safely, especially around children.
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Have naloxone accessible if opioids are in use.
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Seek help for substance use disorders or mental health issues.
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Educate yourself and others about overdose signs and response.
Raising awareness helps destigmatise addiction, encourages early intervention, and can save lives. Observances like International Overdose Awareness Day (Aug 31) promote education, remembrance, and the importance of compassionate, evidence-based care.
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