National Overdose Awareness Day

Published on August 30, 2023

A syringe icon next to the words International Overdose Awareness Day. 31 August.

The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE) joins other public health agencies and non-government organizations in recognizing August 31 as National Overdose Awareness Day, a significant day dedicated to highlighting the far-reaching consequences of overdose.

Overdose doesn't discriminate – affecting individuals, families, friends, and entire communities. It remains a leading cause of injury-related death in the U.S., largely involving opioids. In recent years, synthetic opioids like illicit fentanyl and stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine have seen a concerning rise in overdose deaths.

Colorado has witnessed a distressing increase in overdose deaths, climbing from 974 in 2018 to 1,881 in 2021. Synthetic opioid fentanyl, much stronger than heroin and morphine, is often mixed into counterfeit drugs, leading to unknowing users consuming potentially lethal doses.

Erin Olson, Substance Use Disorder Prevention Specialist at the WCDPHE emphasizes, " For every drug overdose that results in death, there are many more nonfatal overdoses, each one with its own emotional and economic toll. This fast-moving epidemic does not distinguish among age, gender, socioeconomic status, or zip code. People who have had at least one overdose are more likely to have another.”

Recognizing signs of substance dependence or addiction

  • Needing more of a substance for the same effect
  • Using larger amounts or for extended periods
  • Devoting excessive time and effort to obtain substances
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms upon reducing dosage
  • Neglecting work, family, and other activities due to substance use
  • Persisting in substance use despite associated problems

Steps to reduce or stop substance use

  • Non-medical solutions: Such as counseling and behavior therapies
  • Peer-Based Services: Support groups led by those who've overcome dependence or addiction
  • Medication-Assisted Treatment: Medications to curb cravings and withdrawal symptoms
  • Alcohol and Drug Treatment: Diverse services including detoxification and therapy
  • Lifesaving Naloxone: A nasal spray reversing opioid overdoses, including fentanyl

For more resources and information, please visit: https://www.weld.gov/Government/Departments/Health-and-Environment/Lets-Talk.

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