International Overdose Awareness Day - August 31

Huron Perth, ON – International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is marked on August 31 each year. The day is an opportunity to remember loved ones who have been lost due to a drug overdose and to think of those struggling with addiction. Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) acknowledges all families, friends, first responders, and healthcare and support service workers whose lives have been affected by overdose.

Reports from the Office of the Chief Coroner show that in 2023 there were 16 deaths in Huron Perth due to confirmed and probable opioid overdoses, up from 11 deaths in 2022.

“These losses are not just community members; they were friends, family members, and loved ones,” says Michelle Carter, Public Health Nurse.

HPPH encourages community members to remember the importance of addressing stigma surrounding substance use and drug addiction. Opioid addiction can happen to anyone, anywhere and of any age. It’s also important to know how to respond to an overdose.

Learn the signs and symptoms of an overdose

Signs and symptoms may include difficulty staying awake, blue or grey lips or nails, small pupils, cold and clammy hands, dizziness and confusion, choking, slow or no breathing, and unresponsiveness.

Carry naloxone if you or someone you know uses opioids

Naloxone can save a life by temporarily reversing the effects of an opioid overdose while you wait for medical help to arrive. Naloxone kits are available for free from HPPH and local pharmacies. Locations where you can get a naloxone kit can be found at www.ontario.ca/page/where-get-free-naloxone-kit.

During an overdose, stay until help arrives

If you witness an overdose, call 911 and stay with the person until help arrives. The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act provides some legal protection for people who experience or witness an overdose and call 911 for help. This includes protection from charges for possession of a controlled substance.

Together we can save lives. Together we can end overdose.

For more information on substance use and harms in Ontario, and substance-specific strategies to mitigate against harms, see the Chief Medical Officer of Health 2023 Annual Report, Balancing Act: An All-of-Society Approach to Substance Use and Harms.