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Every August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) brings a global community together to take action on overdose. Hold an event, spread the message, take action today.

#IOAD2025 #OverdoseAware #EndOverdose #OneBigFamily

Overdose is preventable – when we act

What we stand for

International Overdose Awareness Day is driven by the following principles...
Overdose can and must be prevented
Overdose prevention solutions exist – let’s use them.
Criminalizing drug use hasn’t worked. Compassionate alternatives must be pursued.
Policy and legislation must exist to protect individuals and communities, and ensure basic human rights and needs are met.
Everyone has a right to respectful and comprehensive health care.
Only a community-wide effort can end overdose.
Join us to take action on overdose today.

Ways to get involved

Hold an event

Host or attend an International Overdose Awareness Day event to remember those lost to overdose, learn more about overdose, or advocate for change to end overdose.

Get resources

Download our campaign, advocacy and education resources and share messages about overdose and overdose prevention in your community or workplace today.

Post a tribute

Post a tribute to a loved one who has passed away from an overdose on the International Overdose Awareness Day tribute page. 

Get merchandise

Buying and wearing merchandise is a great way to show your support and spread the messages of International Overdose Awareness Day.

2024 IOAD Partners' Report

Download our 2024 report now to find out more about the impact of our collective efforts to end overdose.

Tributes from the community

Karina R. Baldonado

My sweet angel, how time flies. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you. Not a day goes by that I don’t mourn for you. Like my child you were, so the pain is the same as if I was the mother. I was the first one to hold you to looking to your sweet doll eyes. And I got to be saying my goodbyes. The cute that consumes me everyday thinking how unfair this could be, she was only a team how could I grow to be an adult, how did I get to grow everyday and she didn’t? My sweet butterfly I remember that I love you held for me. The way you looked up to me like I was the coolest person in the world. I miss you my angel. Time certainly has not healed this wound I still feel as if my heart shatters more every day. What I would give for two more minutes of your time. So please baby girl wait for me on the other side.

... Amelia Yaya

Andrew Joseph Carroll

My son, forever 22. Lost his life to heroin and fentanyl in April 2015. I love and miss him so much.

... Karen

Brad Raisor

Brad Raisor lost his battle with addiction on November 6, 2020. He is missed every day. He had so many people that loved him. Life will never be the same without him.

... Christy

Kaden Claire Harrod

Claire was my 17 year old sister we were adopted into a loving family from separate family’s but ironically not blood related we were a month and 5 days apart, so same age. Claire was the brightest, humorous, gentle and caring person you would meet. She would smile or walk into a room and the whole room would shine brighter than gold. When COVID-19 hit me and Claire both, as close as we were being the only girls in the family with 5 brothers, started getting into drugs and unhealthy addictions. She started the fentanyl and I started the methamphetamines, and pills. The night that Claire went missing she gave me a hug, told me she loved me and will always be here and remember me. She was missing after just getting out of JDC with accusations of trying to charge her with prostitution, which was false we were actually trafficked both a week prior. She went missing beginning of January 2024. I would text her but she would hardly respond. Come January 18th 2024, it was a Thursday night and I remember law enforcement and detectives coming to our front door and my heart absolutely sunk, I didn’t want to think the worst. I remember them asking for pictures of her and anything about her that would identify who they were looking for. I remember showing them every photo I had and I got to the last most recent one that showed a tattoo behind her ear on the left and the silence was so loud. I started bawling and screaming just wanting to know if they found her and was she OK if they did. They said to me she died the 14th of Sunday in 4 days prior to that moment. That night plays in my head every single day and everyday is just so hard and I still haven’t come to terms that she’s really gone. What tears me up the most is what her last words and the hug she gave me and knowing that if I had know then I wouldn’t have let her go out of that hug. Kaden Claire Harrod a 17 year old not even 18 died from a fent overdose in January 14, 2024, she was loved in more ways than ever and will be missed forever and always 🕊💖LLC💖🕊

... Alydda

Casey Lamb

My sweet, handsome man. He left this world on 04/08/25 at the age of 29. He was a light in everyone’s life and my world has been completely shattered. He was doing so good. Clean for 6 months and one bad decision changed everything.

... Kelsey

My son Christopher Connors

My boy Christopher’s journey came to an end on 11/11/22 at the age of 29 💜

... Amy

Overdose affects everyone. From grieving families to spontaneous first responders, the impacts of overdose are far-reaching and fall indiscriminately.

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