International Overdose Awareness Day
International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event that raises awareness of overdose, prevention and through open communication, aims to reduce the stigma of drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends, by remembering those who have lost their lives, or have experienced permanent injury as a result of drug overdose.
The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Howard University have partnered to present a keynote and panel discussion titled “Your Community, Your Conversation”. This program provides an opportunity to educate our community about opioids,recovery, and the lifesaving medicine (Narcan/Naloxone) that reverses the effects of overdose.
Together, we can support a cause to find practical ways to prevent overdose in our community. Overdose is preventable and by being aware of the risks associated with opioid use, and knowingwhat to do when you see someone experiencing an overdose, CAN save lives.
The Opioid Crisis and Community Engagement keynote includes the following learning objectives:
- Understanding social and racial demographics of the opioid epidemic.
- Understanding evidence-based interventions for prevention, identification and treatment of opioid use disorders.
- Understanding social, racial and geographic distribution of current resources to address the opioid epidemic.
- Understanding how to employ community engagement strategies to bolster interventions aimed at curbing the opioid epidemic in communities of color.
For more information on other International Overdose Awareness Day events across the US and other countries, please visit https://www.overdoseday.com/events-2017/.