A few years ago, I wrote a blog post about International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) that happens every August 31st. It is sad to say that we still need this day to remember the lives lost due to substance overdose, and that action to save lives is a necessity. The theme for International Overdose Awareness Day 2026 is 25 Years On. Still Needed. IOAD was first led by Penington Institute in Australia in 2012. It stemmed from a local remembrance day event in Melbourne, Australia at The Salvation Army needle exchange. Today, over 40 countries and 1,000 events take place for IOAD. Both the West Side Heroin and Opioid Taskforce and the Southside Heroin and Opioid Taskforce of Chicago are holding events for IOAD on August 28th and August 31st respectively.
In Cook County, there were 1,169 opioid overdose deaths in 2024. Of these deaths, 87% of them were attributed to fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic (man-made) opioid that is about 50-100x more potent than morphine (another opioid). Fentanyl can be consumed on its own, but illicit or illegal fentanyl can also be mixed into other substances, such as cocaine or counterfeit prescription medications. The combinations of these different substances can have serious health effects, including overdose.
Because overdose does not discriminate and can happen to anyone, it is important for everyone to carry naloxone. Naloxone comes in a nasal spray form and an injectable form and is used to reverse an opioid overdose. Fentanyl test strips can also be an invaluable tool to use to prevent overdose because these strips can test a small amount of a substance and detect if fentanyl is present. Both naloxone and fentanyl test strips are legal for anyone to have in the state of Illinois.
Life-saving tools do exist to prevent opioid overdoses, and it is important for everyone to use them, so that family, friends, and community members no longer lose loved ones. Maybe one day, we will no longer need an International Overdose Awareness Day.
If you are interested in knowing how to use naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and steps to prevent a fatal opioid overdose, please contact Sophia Ottomanelli at ottoman2@illinois.edu.