08/31/2026
Today is International Overdose Awareness Day. In 2024 alone, 2,931 Ohioans died from an unintentional drug overdose, which is roughly 8 people every single day, in every corner of our state.
Overdose remains a leading cause of preventable death in Ohio. It doesn't discriminate by age, income, or zip code, and it is still claiming thousands of lives a year.
This year's global theme is "25 Years On. Still Needed." Twenty-five years of observing this day, and the need has not gone away. Emergency departments across Ohio see this crisis firsthand, every shift.
If you've lost someone to overdose, your grief is seen today too.
Do you know what the signs of overdose are? For opioids, they can include:
- not responding
- cold or clammy skin
- irregular, shallow, or slow breathing
- snoring or gurgling sounds (can appear like deep sleep)
- blue/pale or grey/ashen lips or fingertips.
Use naloxone if you have it and call an ambulance because naloxone only temporarily reverses overdose. Overdose deaths are preventable when we know the signs!
Visit www.overdoseday.com to find out more.
