Aligarh

Overdose Awareness Day was observed last time at our organisation during 2008. Following is the report. We will continue to observe the same on 31st August 2025

(A day to acknowledge individual loss and family grief when loved ones have suffered overdose)

The Ibn Sina Academy organized the “Overdose Awareness Day” on 31st August 2008 to remember those who have died or are suffering permanent injury from drug overdose under the chairmanship of Prof. M. Ashraf Malik (Principal & Chief Medical Superintendent of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College & Hospital, AMU, Aligarh).

Dr. Asad U. Khan delivered the keynote lecture on medico-social aspect of overdoses. He highlighted and discussed the epidemiology, physiology, signs and symptoms and legal status of various drugs’ overdose particularly opiates with all possible measures and antidotes to preventing fatal overdose – SKOOP (Skills and Knowledge on Overdose Prevention).

Dr. M. Tauheed Ahmad presented a self-composed poetry**. Dr. Md Tauheed Ahmad, Circulation Officer, NISA & Resident, Department of Community Medicine, J. N. Medical College, AMU, Aligarh, is an award-winning poet. His first collection of poems was published in 2006. His is also the author of Project Poetry To Combat Tobacco (PTCT), which is a collection of poems focused on breaking the vicious positive image attached to tobacco.

Medical students of JN Medical College (Yasir Alvi, Nusrat, Raunaque, Sadaf Hayat, Aaliya Ehsan, Amrin, Naghma, Shairin) organized posters exhibition on many facets of drug overdoses.

Prof. M. Ashraf Malik while presiding over the function, stressed the need of such awareness programme for common people of all walks of life, he also laid the stress on the role of NGOs in spreading such messages and promised to cooperate himself in such endeavors.

Dr. Syed Ziaur Rahman, Chief Organizer of the even, while conducting the programme, said, “drug overdose may occur accidentally, intentionally or for suicidal reasons. Both ‘drugs of abuse’ and ‘therapeutic medicines’ are responsible for overdose toxicity. Medically, several reasons, such as genetic, accumulation of drugs and their metabolites in the body, long duration of drug exposure, and in any pathological conditions mainly of liver and kidney disorders, are also responsible for drug overdose”.

The programme was a part of the project of the Salvation Army Crisis Service, Australia. Participants wore “Silver Badges” of the Salvation Army that signify the profound loss of someone cherished.