It’s International Overdose Awareness Day on Sunday 31st August, an annual campaign held on the same date each year to provide a dedicated day for remembering people who have sadly passed away from overdose, to advocate for change and to share information that could help save lives.
Remembering Friends & Loved One’s
We would firstly like to mark International Overdose Awareness Day by taking some time to pause and remember friends and loved one’s who have sadly lost their lives from an overdose. If you have someone in mind and would like to post a tribute to remember them, there is a dedicated page on the Overdose Day website where you can write a tribute. You can access the tributes page here or by clicking on the image below.
Signs of Overdose & What to Do
We would also like to share some information about the signs of overdose and what to do if you are with someone you think may have overdosed.
People at risk of overdose can include those who:
- Inject drugs
- have had a detox and/or been in rehab
- mix opiates with other depressants such as benzodiazepines or alcohol
- may be experiencing depression
People can be at much higher risk if they relapse after a period of time of being clean, for example, after residential addiction treatment or detoxification. Their tolerance will reduce meaning they could overdose even if they attempt to use a smaller amount than they normally used before stopping.
If you ever take drugs, it is really important to:
- Get information about risks
- Be aware of tolerance if you have had a period of clean time
- Assess your own level of risk
- Not to mix drugs
- Know what you are taking
- Make sure others know where you are and what you are doing
Signs of Overdose:
- Snoring deeply
- Turning blue
- Not breathing
- No initial signs at all – the effects can kick-in hours after the initial ‘hit’
If you think someone has overdosed, you can help to save their life by:
- Checking their consciousness by shouting or pinching their ear
- Putting them in the recovery position
- Calling 999 for an ambulance
- Doing chest compressions if breathing has stopped or they are cold or blue
What you should NOT do if someone has overdosed:
- Don’t pick them up to walk them around
- Don’t put them in a cold bath
- Don’t inject them with salt water
- Don’t hit or hurt them to try and bring them around
These are important points to note and try to remember as this information could help to save the life of someone you know.
We are sending love and our deepest sympathies to everyone who has lost a loved one to addiction or overdose.
