August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day. Twenty-five years in, the conversation is just as important as ever.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of International Overdose Awareness Day, and the theme says it all: 25 Years On. Still Needed. The fact that this day still exists isn’t a failure. It’s a testament to all of the communities, advocates, and families who have refused to let the conversation go quiet. And it’s a reminder that the work is far from over.
The numbers are hard to sit with. The CDC estimates that 80,391 people died from a drug overdose in 2024. This marks a nearly 27% drop from 2023 which means that overdose deaths will decline to levels not seen since 2019. That decline is real progress, and it deserves to be acknowledged. But over 80,000 lives lost in a single year is still an enormous number, and behind every one of those statistics is a person. Someone’s coworker, parent, friend, or child. This hits particularly close to home in the construction industry, which consistently ranks among the highest of all sectors for overdose risk.
Overdose is preventable. That’s not a cliché. It’s the foundational truth that International Overdose Awareness Day is built on. The solutions exist in forms of open discussions, accessible resources, and compassion in dealing with individuals who suffer from addiction.
What are the signs that showcase awareness working? It is the understanding of the signs of an overdose and how to act if one witnesses it. It looks like understanding that addiction is a health issue, not a moral failure. It looks like checking in on the people around you, genuinely and not just in passing. And it looks like reducing the stigma that keeps so many people from asking for help in the first place, because stigma costs lives.
At Danella, we work alongside people every day who show up through all kinds of hardship. A workplace that takes care of its people doesn’t stop at physical safety. It extends to mental health, overall wellbeing, and the kind of culture where nobody feels like they have to struggle alone.
If you or someone you know needs support, the SAMHSA National Helpline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-4357. Free, confidential, and always there.
– Morgan Peta, Marketing Intern
Source:https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2025/2025-cdc-reports-decline-in-us-drug-overdose-deaths.html