International Overdose Awareness Day - August 31st, 2025
August 31st, 2025, is just around the corner, and you know what that means - it's International Overdose Awareness Day! This incredible day was first conceptualized in 2001 by Sally J. Finn at The Salvation Army in Melbourne, Australia. Sally, a worker at the St Kilda Crisis Centre, lost her only brother to overdose in 1999, and she knew she had to do something to raise awareness about the devastating effects of overdose. The Goal: Break the Stigma The main goal of this day is to break the stigma surrounding overdose and drug-related deaths. For far too long, people struggling with addiction have been shamed, judged, and stigmatized. But the truth is, addiction can affect anyone - rich or poor, young or old, and from all walks of life. International Overdose Awareness Day is about acknowledging that addiction is a disease, not a moral failing. A Global Movement Fast-forward to today, and International Overdose Awareness Day has become a global movement. People from all o...