International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is on Monday 31 August, a global event held each year that aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death.
Overdose Awareness Day also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have met with death or permanent injury as a result of drug overdose.
The theme for 2015 is Rethink and Remember. Those who have lost loved ones are able to post tributes on the overdose awareness website (www.overdoseday.com ).
The Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council of Tasmania (ATDC), the peak body for community sector drug and alcohol treatment organisations in the state, is supporting the Day.
ATDC Policy and Research Officer, David Gardiner, said the day is about spreading the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable and people are encouraged to wear something silver to show their support on the day.
“More Australians die from drug overdose than traffic accidents,” he said.
Data provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2014 indicates that nearly four Australians die every day from overdose and overdoses out-numbered road fatalities in Australia in 2012. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics overdose deaths totalled 1,427 in 2012, while road deaths, which have been steadily declining, ended the year at 1,338.
ATDC Policy and Research Officer, David Gardiner, said we need more investment in proven cost-effective harm reduction and life-saving interventions for people who use drugs, and the provision of support and treatment.
“People are encouraged to use social media and share messages within your networks by using the hashtag #OD15,” he said.
Overdose Awareness Day has social media pages on Facebook (www.facebook.com/InternationalOverdoseAwarenessDay) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/OverdoseDay) where people are able to share messages of support, photos and resources.
This year the ATDC is encouraging the Tasmanian Government to better respond to overdose. In 2012 a take-home naloxone program commenced in the ACT through which naloxone was made available to peers and family members of people who inject drugs for the reversal of opioid overdose. A similar program started in NSW shortly after and some other states have followed.
Mr Gardiner said that naloxone is a short-acting drug that has been used for over 40 years to reverse the
effects of opioids.
“Naloxone is widely used in Australia and internationally by paramedics and hospital emergency department staff in cases of suspected heroin and opioid overdose,” he said.
“We would like to see the availability of naloxone expanded so that we are able to further reduce and prevent death, disability, and injury from opioid overdoses through provision of training and resources to opioid users and their friends and family members who could be potential overdose witnesses.”
ATDC Policy and Research Officer, David Gardiner
