Every August 31
International Overdose Awareness Day is observed every August 31. The 2026 campaign theme, 25 Years On. Still Needed., calls for remembrance of people who have lost their lives to overdose and continued action on prevention.
The day is an opportunity to view overdose not only as an individual issue, but as a public-health issue requiring prevention, treatment, and emergency response.
What are opioids?
Opioids are a class of strong pain-relieving medicines. They include morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, and tramadol used in healthcare, as well as illicit substances such as heroin.
These substances can reduce pain while also suppressing the brain functions that control breathing. Taking more than the body can tolerate may make breathing very slow or stop it altogether. WHO identifies three common warning signs of suspected opioid overdose:
- Very small pupils
- Loss of consciousness
- Difficulty breathing
Korea and North America have different contexts
Korea has not experienced an illicit opioid crisis on the scale seen in the United States or Canada. A Korean analysis of drug-related deaths based on data from 2011 to 2021 explains that illicit use of heroin, methadone, and opium was rare in Korea, so the analysis focused on medical opioids.
In contrast, opioid overdose is treated as a major public-health issue in the United States and Canada.
- United States: Opioids were involved in 54,045 drug-overdose deaths, or 16.0 deaths per 100,000 people. More than one drug may have been involved in a death.
- Canada: There were 7,313 deaths due to opioid toxicity, an average of about 20 deaths per day.
Why opioid overdose is connected to BLS
An opioid overdose first slows breathing and can progress to respiratory arrest. When breathing stops and oxygen is no longer delivered, cardiac arrest can follow. Opioid-overdose response is therefore directly connected to basic life support (BLS), which supports breathing and circulation.
The American Heart Association’s 2025 guidance explains that airway management, ventilatory support, and naloxone are important in opioid-associated respiratory arrest. If cardiac arrest is suspected, high-quality CPR including ventilation should begin; naloxone must not delay or interfere with CPR.
Naloxone can temporarily reverse opioid effects and help restore breathing, but it does not replace chest compressions or ventilatory support. If a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, activate the emergency medical system and start BLS immediately.
Access to naloxone differs by country
Countries where opioid overdose occurs more frequently operate different systems to make naloxone available sooner.
- United States: In 2023, the FDA approved the first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray. Some products can be purchased without a prescription in pharmacies, convenience stores, and grocery stores.
- Canada: Most pharmacies can provide take-home naloxone kits without a prescription, and some provinces and territories provide them free of charge.
- United Kingdom: Naloxone is a prescription medicine, but drug-treatment services and designated healthcare and public-safety workers can provide take-home kits without an individual prescription. In an emergency, anyone can use naloxone that is available.
Why New York City recommends keeping naloxone near AEDs
The New York City Department of Health recommends that organizations and businesses keep shared naloxone in a location that is easy to find in an emergency, such as near a first-aid kit or an AED. This does not mean distributing naloxone and AEDs as one kit; it means improving access so both can be found quickly when needed.
NYC Health lists locations for free naloxone kits, including pharmacies, opioid-overdose prevention programmes, and 24-hour public-health vending machines. In 2026, its “Just in Case” campaign also promoted free mail delivery and online education.
Scope of this article
This is public-health information based on WHO materials and does not provide personal diagnosis or treatment instructions. In an emergency involving reduced consciousness or breathing difficulty, seek professional emergency help immediately.
Sources
- International Overdose Awareness Day — 2026 campaign and August 31 information
- World Health Organization, Opioid overdose — updated August 29, 2025
- US CDC, Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 2023–2024
- Public Health Agency of Canada, Opioid toxicity deaths
- American Heart Association, 2025 CPR & ECC Guidelines: Opioids
- US FDA, first over-the-counter naloxone nasal spray
- Health Canada, Naloxone
- UK Department of Health and Social Care, Supplying take-home naloxone without a prescription
- NYC Health, Naloxone
- NYC Health, “Just in Case” campaign