About the campaign
Our vision is a world without overdose
Every August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) brings a global community together to take action on overdose.
It is a global platform that provides tools, resources and a space for communities to connect and drive change.
Through events – both in person and online – communities honour lives lost, educate their families, friends and peers and explore evidence-based overdose prevention solutions.
What drives us
The International Overdose Awareness Day campaign is guided by 6 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.
Learn more about our guiding principles.
How it began
Who is behind IOAD
Penington Institute
Penington Institute, a drug policy research non-profit, has been quietly leading International Overdose Awareness Day since 2012, transforming a single event into a global day of action.
From the start, Penington Institute championed local ownership, believing that lasting change happens when communities are empowered to find their own solutions.
This approach has allowed IOAD to grow and be focused on local priorities, driven by the voices of those most impacted.
