Kirikiriroa Hamilton

August 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD)—a global day of remembrance, action, and solidarity. Today, and every day we should we pause to remember the lives lost to overdose, support those who continue to grieve, and recommit ourselves to ending the overdose crisis through compassion, education, and collective responsibility. Overdose does not discriminate. People who use drugs are people first. It affects individuals across all communities—regardless of age, race, gender, socioeconomic status, or background. Behind each statistic is a human story: a person with hopes, struggles, and loved ones left behind. This day is about breaking the silence, dispelling stigma, and uplifting voices that are too often unheard. We acknowledge that overdose deaths are preventable. Solutions exist—but only if we choose to act. We advocate for:
• Expanded access to harm reduction services, including supervised consumption sites and syringe service programs
• Widespread availability of naloxone and overdose prevention education
• Equitable access to treatment and recovery services free of judgment and financial barriers
• Trauma-informed and culturally competent care for all people who use substances
• Policy changes that prioritize public health over punishment
This crisis is not one of personal failure but of systemic neglect. It is time to reframe addiction and substance use as a health issue—not a moral one. We must replace shame with support, and punishment with prevention.
We also stand with the families, friends, frontline workers, and communities who carry the weight of this crisis every day. Your strength, advocacy, and resilience are the backbone of change.
Let this day be a moment of remembrance—but also of hope. Together, we can build a world where people feel safe to ask for help, where recovery is possible, and where no one is left behind.
We remember. We act. We change.
#EndOverdose #IOAD2025 #RememberWithoutStigma #HarmReductionWorks