International Overdose Awareness Day

The world’s annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind

Time to Remember. Time to Act.

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Hosting or attending an International Overdose Awareness Day event is a powerful way to join together to remember those who lost their lives to overdose.

Campaign resources

We provide campaign materials to share within your community to help prevent overdose.

Remember a lost loved one

Post your tribute to a loved one who has passed away from an overdose.

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Tributes to lost loved ones

My beautiful son Maxwell, you are missed every single second of the day. We were so lucky to have you in our lives for your short 19 years. So many wonderful memories, always so inquisitive, wanting to know everything. Baseball games, fishing, skiing, walks in the forest, pushing you in the swing for hours, chicken nuggets and my world famous brownies. Life will never be the same without you that's for sure. Frito-Bandito follows me everywhere. I'm happy you are free from addiction finally. Rest In Peace my sweet boy. Until we meet again, muma

Miami fl

Sarah couper

I'm memory of Brendan Krupp, 7/11/98 - 12/8/16. Also known as BK. Loving son, brother, grandson and friend to many. You are missed! Keeping your memory alive by raising awareness to drug overdose. BK - Be Kind Always! Love mom and dad St. Peters, Missouri

Christina Krupp

On August the 2nd, 2012, I lost my beautiful son David to a heroin od. We found him on his bedroom floor, unresponsive, on July 31st. After CPR he died on life support at Stony Brook Hospital, Long Island, New York. After four years maybe the tears have dried up a bit, but the pain is worse everyday. According to his friends, he had just started using. He had no job and he had lost his driver's licence because he drove too fast too often. He always lived on the edge - trying physical tricks that most people would be afraid of. He had so many friends - they all would describe him as "someone to talk to because he was non judgemental" He had sparkling brown eyes and the hugest smile. He dearly loved his girlfriend Michelle. I'm a nurse. I don't know why I didn't see some change in him that indicated trouble, but of God am I paying for it now. He had always spoken against heroin - I do't know what changed him. But I am so sorry I was not able to help him. It's been four years now since I last heard his voice, saw his smile, Had one of his hugs. His friends would laugh because no matter what he was doing, he would stop to kiss me good-by when I was going to work. I miss him so much it hurts. I love him so much it hurts. I don't know why it was part of God's plan to take him from me, his Dad, his brother, Michelle and so many friends. I want him back, and we all know that doesn't happen. All I can do is hope I see him again some sweet day. I love you my son. Momma

Leslie

Jojo. I miss you so much and you were loved by so many. I would like to thank your body for allowing me to be in your presence for 27 years. I hope to see you one day in the afterlife. Love Mom

Tracy

Today marks 6 months since my best friend Ben died of a heroin overdose. Not a day goes by when I don't think of him. Ben struggled with addiction since he was 13 years old. I met him when I myself was 12 and he 13. From day 1 he had a high-energy, fast paced and eccentric personality. You either loved him or you hated him, and I loved him wholeheartedly. He struggled for years with this terrible and scary addiction. At one point it had so much control over his life that he started to pull away from his family, friends and me. He also battled with depression, insecurity and shame for his addiction. He died September 19th, 2014 at his home. He was 21 years old. He had so much potential, that he just did not see within himself. Every day I wake up with regret; maybe if I had really talked to him about his addiction he would still be here. What if I had told him how much it frightened me? How much it would devastate so many people if we lost him? I will never know. I lost my oldest, dearest and closest friend to drugs. And I will never be the same. Ben I love you, I miss you, and l will never stop telling our stories.

Jillian.S

Kyle, my baby boy, my best friend, I miss you more and more each day. You suffered so much with your addiction. Hopefully you are now at peace...love you, Mom

Beloved and loving, my first born son, Alex Moorhead. Missing you til we meet again, honey.

Jean

In Loving Memory of Bradley Thomas Born March 13, 1983 Died December, 2011

Crystal

In loving memory of my son, Jeremy Wayne B. May 30, 1976 – May 2, 2004, I think of you every day. The pain of losing you never goes away. Your daughter Mariah is lost without you. We’ll never forget you or let your memory fade. We love you always. Mom, daughter, brothers, Jason, Joshua, Jacob

Mom

To my mom who battled addictions with pills and LOST the battle in 2010...you are soo missed

Semmes Alabama

Mary

My son, Robert Rebyak was in the hospital on life support on March 17,2013. Doctor say he would not make it by the time I got there.
2 weeks later doctor says 50-50 chance he is such a strong boy .he passed away on 4/9/13 I'm miss him more than anything.wish I could hug him, kiss him ,and tell him i love him just one more time. Mom love's you Rob ♡♡♡

North new Jersey

Ruthann Gaspari

My brother was involved in a terrible car crash exactly on August 31, 2018. Miraculously, he didn't kill anyone and walked away without a scratch. After that, my Dad and I urged David to heed God's call to change his life around. It was too late. David passed away on February 10, 2019. Our hearts are shattered but we must carry on in Jesus' name. Posted 31/08/2019

Diana

My little brother was found dead on April 8, 2016. He had used heroin cut with fentynal. He was 41 years old. My brother is and always will be missed by my family and all of his friends. Everyone needs to help stop this epidemic. We need to stop this modern day plaque on our cities.

Jennifer

David was a very loving son and brother. He was funny and would help anyone that needed it. He will always be loved and missed.

David

Liv baby, I miss you so much. You were so insightful for a 19-year-old. You would always be willing to listen if I was having troubles. I'm sorry that I couldn't help you with your struggles more. I think about you every day. Your 20th Birthday is coming up. I hope you're at peace now, and that all your hardships have left you. I love you so much. 2/2/93-3/4/12

Juli

Todd the best son, father, grandfather,brother and uncle will never ever be forgotten. I listen to your voice and giggle every day and your big smile on your Harley. I will never forget that terrible phone call a mother never wants to get. You were such a special big hearted great man. I just sit and cry every day wanting you to say hey Mom what's for dinner. You loved your family, great food and riding your Harley. We miss and love you so much. At Logan's football game the other day something happened and Tami said Todd would say dum... You should know that. You were 47 years old it's not fair you had so much going for you. I was looking at pictures of your house today k owing you built it with your own hands and how happy it made you. I will never ever get over this!! We love and miss u every minute of everyday. Remembering calling you the night before we lost you and you answered saying hey Mama what's up"...Love and miss you forever sweet Todd it's been four months and it just gets worse.....xxoo

Nancy

To all the families that have lost someone to this hard struggling disease called addiction & those that need to really understand that it's a real disease that we in recovery fight every day to not relapse. To all my fallen comrade's you are and will Never be forgotten & we all wish that you had reached out to someone before this Gorilla got a hold of you. Soar In Peace.

FloydT

I Miss you so much words cannot say. My life will never be the same without you. I only pray I see you in Heaven my Beautiful Boy. Your Mom sisssy and brother miss you. Mommy

Susan Crane Button

As long as there is a moon, a sun and the sea, there is love. Carter Mayes Watts, October 31, 2000 - January 18, 2021 A huge heart that could be filled with love and kindness for others - but not necessarily for himself. Such a crazy disease that has to be self-treated with support from others instead of treated or cured by others.

John

To my mom in heaven, I love you so much, you fought for so long but I’m glad you aren’t hurting anymore. I can’t wait until we meet again. Everything I do from now on is for you. You are my sunshine. All the hugs and all the kisses. Love you momma <3 Destiny Hudson Falls, NY

Destiny S.

Sic itur ad astra‎, Boy…you are stars. Daniel, 1969 – 1995.

Girlie

Daddy, I love and miss you so much I think about you everyday. Kenosha Wisconsin United States

Randy

I miss you dad so much, the girls miss you so, we all love you and wish you were still here

Donald

?Daddy, I miss you so much, I think about all of the little things that I miss so much everyday, I hate that I can't pick up the phone and host hear your voice, I know you're with me in spirit, but what I would do to have u back, I know in my heart that you made it to heaven with your family and friends that have passed away. I just wanted to say that you're always gonna be my number one hero and my father, my best friend and I will never ever forget all the good times we had since I was a baby, you've always been by my side no matter what... You'll be forever missed and never ever forgotten, R.I.H. FLY HIGH. LOVE YOUR NUMBER ONE FAN... YOUR BABY GIRL CHELS

Chelsea

We will be walking to honor the life of my 24 son Martino Stein who left us on 3/16/2021 we love and miss you Life hasn't been the same since you left we can't breathe

Tammy

In 2012 I lost a son to a heroin overdose at 21 years of age. It was devastating to see this happen as we were not expecting it. It is hard for grieving families when you lose someone way before their time and potential on this Earth. May the Lord have mercy on those that have lost their lives and may he give us peace for us that grieve the loss of our loved ones.

Timothy

I lost my only child, my son, Nathan Ferguson Alvarez to a heroin overdose on 12/13/15. He was a beautiful, loving soul and struggled for 3years. We need to find an end to addiction. Too many wonderful angels leaving us, too soon. We love you Nathan and those who are in recovery, struggling and all loved ones caught up in the cycle.

Kelly

Alec Brandon Martinez, you are loved and you are so missed. I love you dearly my sweet big brother. I will make sure your legacy lives on and I will do my best to educate and inform in your memory.

Emily

This is my brother Kole, he died September 12 2020. Fentanyl overdose As kids, we lived together We fought, we laughed, we cried. We did not always show the love, that we both had inside. We shared our dreams and plans, and some secrets too. All the memories we share, Is what bonds me now to you. We grew to find we have a love that is very strong today. It’s a love shared by our family, that will never fade away. You are my brother not by choice, but by the nature of our birth I could not have chosen a better one you were the best on earth.

Rebecka

Robin and Lonnie, There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you both. My beautiful siblings....my heart just breaks. You are missed by your sweet children, our father, myself, and all the lives you touched. We think of you today and every other one as well. Eternal Memory ❤️

Christina

Patrick Terri "I think about them everyday" D

Danette

Devan, you are the love of my life. We were together seven years and you made me incredibly happy. You were the reason I enjoyed life. Until I see you again, rest in peace my love. fitchburg

kelsey

I have been in recovery for years. I've watched truly amazing people get their lives back. Unfortunately I have watched so many beautiful souls lose their fight. There are so many for me to pay tribute to i'm not sure where to begin. Posted 12/06/2019

Abbie Kent

Mike Spires you are missed more than words can say! I love you and I wanted to leave a tribute in honor of National Overdose Awareness Day which is August 31st. because you were the best and deserve to not go unrecognized by passing from this horrible disease. There's not a day that goes by that I do not think of you and all the memories we made together as best friends. Someday we will meet again, until then it's not goodbye it's see you again someday.
Love Kim

Methuen Ma US

Kim

My dear, beautiful son David passed away 7 weeks and 3 days ago. David was 35 years old and stuggled with heroine for 7 and a half years. David was sober many times and was doing great. He overdosed from heroine in our home, I found him, I love him with all my heart and cannot believe that I will not see or hear his voice again. He has a loving family, Mom, Dad, Twin Brother and 2 Sisters. He has 2 nephews and 2 neices. We are all devasted by this loss. We started going to Grasp meetings 4 weeks after his death, David was a kind, loving person and will be missed forever. I love you David, Love Mom

Judy

I lost my youngest son, Brett, on April 27, 2015. It was the worst day of my life. I go through that day over and over in my mind and think of him and miss him every single moment. The pain is unbearable at times, I just feel so lost. I wish something could be done about this horrible situation of losing our loved ones. I miss you every day Brett.....until God calls me to the other side.

Cathy

My aunt died of an overdose on 2014. She battled with addiction for along time. She was a person with so much passion. And amazing work ethic, I never knew anyone who worked as hard as her. She loved my cousin her son more then life it's self. Growing up she would be at all his baseball games cheering him on. She would speak of him with tears of pride and joy almost everytime. I don't know where it all went wrong. I was young I heard stories of her having a hard child hood. I sure know my cousin did since his mom was an addict. My uncle got full custody of him right around his 10th birthday. This broke her and eventually she went to prison for theft and possession of drugs. She was in jail for awhile. She got out and my cousin was into drugs at this point. He grew up around it, I remember as young kids he would talk about how he knew what bongs and bowls were and how to roll a joint. His life spiraled put of control as she was put of jail and they were using heroin together. She over dosed shorty after she got her own place. Her granddaughter found her and her boyfriend dead after school one day. They died of a mixture of Meth and heroin. Her heart actually exploded inside of her. No one in the family knew my cousin was doing those drugs with his mom but he was. And shorty after his mother died he was in jail because he was found passed out in his car with a needle in his arm just right outside his newborn daughters bedroom. Her was clean for awhile of course while he was in jail he had no choice. He got out and is right back in jail for the same offense. I wish I could understand why. But I can't. I'm so heartbroken by the loss of her. And im praying every night that he won't die like she did.

Brittany

I survived half a dozen severe heroin ODs, in all cases but one very small doses combined with diazepam (valium). I was dead a few minutes a few times, and mostly luck saved me : someone was there, the pain of a cigarette burning the palm of my hand kept me alive, etc. After 30 years of heroin use on and off, 22 years on and off methadone I have no business being in such reasonably good health, or even alive. I rejoice of that every day, and also despair at my mounting losses : I've decided that if I couldn't stop completely I was going to manage my habit and work to help my peers. Only work, legit work, period. I've had the incredible joy of bringing one person back from the dead thanks to the wide availability of naloxone in Quebec, and some cops not being above asking an addict for help : Mary, I'm so glad you're not one of my ghosts, hope you're hanging in, wherever you are. This is the hard part, as I'm afraid I can`t do my ghosts justice, not remembering them all or their names, at once. I just know that not just ODs but the consequences of a misguided, crass War on Drugs has made all my adult life a long litany of losses. Julie, 24 years in November, I swear I can still smell you sometimes in the morning when I wake up alone... To all of you, gentle miscreants and fellows of the roads less travelled, friends, great loves, lovers, loved and lost ones, thank you for having shared part of your lives, however small or for how little time, as your memories, their collective weight on my soul, are part of what keeps me going : if I'm still here, and you all are not, I must not stop.... So I strive to rise, and be a better man. Thank you Posted 23/08/2019

Nicolas Quijano

Peter you are loved and desperately missed. I honor the life you lived, your sweet and gentle soul. I pray you have found peace. 07.14.1993 - 10.05.2021

Jennifer

My name is Julian Denny. I am a 27-year old male, with 15 months of sobriety, for the first time in my life. I am here to remember my two friends, Ty and Austin. One from Heroin and the other from Benzos. Me, I have had Narcan used on me and came back angry because they brought me back. I was such a numb fool. I had my heart stop once at 16 from a DXM OD and ever since that day...I couldn't find "Real Peace". With the help of MN Adult and Teen Challenge, I am turning my life around by digging deep into my mind and dealing with core issues. I have been working with a prevention group called Know The Truth. We are given the opportunity to go into schools and tell our stories of addiction to students. I am grateful for the opportunity to reach even one teenager, to prevent one more sad story from happening. I am grateful for another chance at life.

Julian

Jordan, when you left, the world didn't stop, time didn't stop, no, everything just kept on going like nothing happened. But my world stopped, my time stood still, and I'm still trying to put one foot in front of the other mate. I miss you more than there are stars mate and I count the days till I see you again when my time here is done. I finished the picture of you and am having it framed. I plan to somehow give it to your Mom and Dad...as that is where it should go. Give Mom a hug for me buddy and tell her I love her and I love you too Buddy!!! Till next then... Mick Posted 04/06/2019

Mick

I have lost several friends but the closest to my heart was my sister Michele's death in Jan. Of 2015 to Heroin. I encourage everyone to seek help, confide in a loved one and let someone help you. There is a light, there is a way out, recovery is possible. <3

Fulton,N.Y.

Mandee T.

I lost my beautiful daughter Amanda Lynn on 02/10/20 after a ten year struggle with addiction. She is now forever 37. Her 3 children miss her everyday and so do I! In her honor, I continue to help others on their recovery journey.

Paula

My heart has a hole I miss you so very much. Watch over your baby girl and family. We love you. Posted 02/09/2019

Shane LaRocca

Aunt Jessica we miss you so much. Still heartbroken. Please forgive us if we had any part in your broken heart. RIP Jessica 12/11/76-5/30/20.

Ronnie

Rest in Peace now my darling daughter. Caila (Clouse) Armijo 8/15/1989 to 8/19/2016. Mom

Kristin

Rest in Heaven Jessie Manning you were a great friend and deserved so much better than what you had in life. I'm sorry heroin took your life you had a horrible disease and you tried to get clean for your children but you lost your battle im glad your at peace in Heaven. Have a wonderful after life cause living that life was not what you wanted and you never have to worry about living like that again. See you one day again beautiful you were a great friend. I love you and miss you bunches

Middletown, Ohio

Justin

Nikki B. What can I say? My love, my heart my future wife. This disease has damaged us both. I got help, instead you kept on using. We were supposed to be together forever. Now I’m here alone. Still battling recovery. It’s so hard without you. If I would’ve been there that day this would’ve never happened. Rest In Peace babe. I’ll never forget or love another like you. I forever love you. P.S. Love you more West Columbia/Lexington

Eddie

We lost you 2 May 2011. I was only 13 when you passed. People acted like I couldn't understand, when I understood every event that took place. I miss you more than my words describe. I know you are in a better place. We know none of this was on purpose. You are such a caring young man (23) it's sad you went the way you did. You were in rehab and doing so well. You seemed so much happier. But we could all see the pain you were hiding. We love you Alex. These words don't even compare to how much we love and miss you. You are a wonderful angel and I am truly blessed to call you my brother no matter what people think. Though there is still grief you have done many amazing things with a halo above your head. I hope I make you proud. I love you brother your name will never be forgotten.

Mariea

Dearest Nicholas, cherished 24-year-old son, you’re with me in my heart and soul as the most loving, sensitive, sweet-natured son I could’ve ever wished for. I am forever grateful for the time you spent with me and your sister, they were the most important and most lovely years of our lives. I hope the part of me that has been missing since you died of a painful alcohol and drug addiction on January 23, 2018 is with you. I love you so much. Red Oak, VA 23964

Mom

International Overdose Awareness Day: 31st August