August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), a global event dedicated to remembering those who have lost their lives to overdose and reaffirming our commitment to preventing these tragedies.

With nearly 110,000 drug overdose deaths reported in 2022, approximately three-quarters of which were due to opioids, the need for awareness and action has never been greater. In the workplace alone, unintentional overdose deaths from nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol have surged by 536% since 2011, with 464 fatalities in 2021.

To combat this crisis, it’s essential to educate ourselves and our communities. Here’s how you can make a difference:

• Talk to your workplace about adding naloxone nasal spray.
• Learn to spot the signs of an opioid overdose.
• Understand the impact of substance use at work or in your home, and how to have tough conversations.

For more resources and information, visit overdoseday.com.

Locally, you can learn more about overdose prevention and Narcan distribution through our partners at Strafford County Public Health Network. Narcan is available through these community partners:

• HAND UP Health Services | NH Harm Reduction Coalition: nhhrc.org/handup
• SOS Recovery Community Organization: SOSRCO.org
• The Doorway at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, 789 Central Avenue, Dover

By taking these steps, we can help protect our loved ones, co-workers, and neighbors from the dangers of opioid overdose and save lives.