From the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare:
International Overdose Awareness Day takes place on August 31. The event is part of a worldwide campaign to end overdose, eliminate stigma, remember those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of family and friends.
DID YOU KNOW...?
Provisional data from CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics reveal over 100,000 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. during the 12-month period ending April 2021.[1] That’s a 28% increase over the same period the year before.[2] Overdose deaths related to synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) and psychostimulants, such as methamphetamine, cocaine, and natural and semi-synthetic opioids (e.g., prescription pain medication) all increased.[3]
HOW TO HELP
Below are some CDC recommendations on how to prevent overdose deaths, along with additional materials from the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW):[4]
Reduce stigma regarding substance use disorder treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services. Review the brief Disrupting Stigma: How Understanding, Empathy, and Connection Can Improve Outcomes for Families Affected by Substance Use and Mental Disorders. This brief, along with the virtual discussion, highlight how stigma affects professionals, families, and existing institutions and structures.
Link people to services while helping them start—and stay—in treatment. Learn more about substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and what to look for when referring to agencies within your community in Understanding Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Resource Guide for Professionals Referring to Treatment.
Improve access and reduce barriers to proven treatment for substance use disorders (e.g., medication for opioid use disorder). Visit our medication-assisted treatment webpage to access numerous resources that help communities, organizations, and agencies better understand and implement evidence-based approaches to support the safety, well-being, and recovery of children and families.
Integrate SUD treatment with culturally tailored practices. Disproportionalities and Disparities in Child Welfare: A Supplement to Understanding Substance Use Disorder, Treatment, and Family Recovery: A Guide for Child Welfare Professionals helps child welfare staff implement strategies to increase engagement with families and reduce inequities.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit offers strategies to health care providers, communities, and local governments for developing practices and policies to help prevent opioid-related overdoses and deaths.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Navigating Effective Strategies to Prevent Opioid Overdose provides guidance for navigating effective strategies to prevent opioid overdose in communities.
CMS's Reduce Risk of Opioid Overdose Deaths by Avoiding and Reducing Co-Prescribing Benzodiazepines summarizes multiple strategies to reduce the impact of this potentially dangerous practice, with a focus on patient health, safety, and well-being.
Learn more about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Overdose Prevention Strategy.
998 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE
Did you know 988 isn’t just for a suicide crisis? It’s also for mental health and substance use crises. Visit the 988 websites to learn more. If you or someone you know has a suicide, mental health, or substance use crisis, call/text 988.