National Safety Council Urges Americans to Take Action on International Overdose Awareness Day

Worldwide observance an opportunity to remember those lost to opioids, prevent additional deaths

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Aug 16, 2018, 11:01 ET

ITASCA, Ill., Aug. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Safety Council is calling on Americans to recognize International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31 by remembering lost loved ones and working to prevent future deaths, particularly deaths due to opioid overdose, which have reached alarming numbers in the country.

Drug overdoses in the U.S. totaled 54,793 in 2016, and nearly 38,000 of those involved opioids. Preventable opioid overdose deaths increased 29 percent in 2016 and are up 544 percent since 1999. Currently, 73 percent of preventable opioid deaths occur among those ages 25 to 54, though the number of deaths among individuals age 55 and older is growing, presenting new challenges. Teens and seniors are affected as well.

"The opioid epidemic has taken an incredible toll on our nation, resulting in the loss of family members, friends, neighbors and co-workers," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "International Overdose Awareness Day is a time to remember those who have died, but it is also an opportunity to prevent additional deaths through sharing stories and supporting education and advocacy efforts."

Community members are urged to commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day in some way, such as hosting or attending a candlelight vigil; participating in an educational program, such as how to administer naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug; disposing of unused medications in their home; or sharing an art-based project memorializing lives lost.

Additional activities include:

Adding the name of a loved one who died of an opioid overdose to the Celebrating Lost Loved Ones map at https://losttoopioids.nsc.org
Accessing the NSC Facebook page to get a purple International Overdose Awareness Day frame for your Facebook profile picture; or sharing the NSC Facebook Live virtual candlelight vigil on Aug. 31
Hosting or attending a naloxone training
Contacting one's elected officials about overdose prevention

The National Safety Council provides free Warn-Me Labels that are sized to fit on insurance and prescription cards without covering up important information. The labels encourage patients to ask questions about the risks of prescribed opioids and whether there are safer, effective alternatives. In addition, NSC provides Seal&Send Envelopes from Stericycle to help make it easier for people to safely and correctly dispose of unused drugs. Envelopes are U.S. postage-paid, pre-addressed and include complete instructions. Larger quantities of both the labels and envelopes are available.

For more International Overdose Awareness Day ideas, visit nsc.org/overdoseawarenessday. To learn more about how to host a community awareness event, click here.

About the National Safety Council
Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, the National Safety Council, nsc.org, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact – distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety, prescription drug overdoses and Safe Communities.

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SOURCE National Safety Council