International Overdose Awareness Day is August 31st

Last year 2,357 residents of Massachusetts lost their lives to an opioid-related overdose – friends, family, brothers, sisters, neighbors, co-workers. This represented the highest number of overdose deaths in the Commonwealth in a 12-month period and a fraction of the number of individuals who experienced a non-fatal overdose in this time. Decades of research has demonstrated that overdose, particularly fatal overdose, is preventable – especially when we cast off our assumptions and biases about who is and isn’t at risk for overdose and who is and isn’t worthy of attention and grace. On August 31st each year we observe International Overdose Awareness Day – a day to remember and commemorate those who are no longer with us, a day to heal, a day for open discussion and learning, and a day to advocate for change.

Overdose is a complex issue that is influenced by a combination of individual, interpersonal, organizational, and societal factors. A central focus of International Overdose Awareness Day is on restoring agency and dignity to people who use drugs and exploring ways to minimize drug-related harms, independent of whether a person chooses to abstain, continues to use substances, or is at different stages of readiness for change. Some of the more deeply entrenched risk factors for overdose include:

• Synthetic Opioids: The mixing of highly potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and fentanyl analogs into the drug supply leads to people not knowing what they are introducing into their bodies and not being able to take the correct amount based on their level of tolerance. Drug-checking technologies such as fentanyl test strips and calls for the establishment of Overdose Prevention Centers are two promising approaches to help address what one state official recently labeled, “a toxic drug supply.”
• Previous Overdose: One of the best predictors of experiencing an overdose is having had a previous overdose. Different “touch points” within the emergency medical systems offer opportunities to engage with people who have overdosed and their social networks to offer resources and support to those who desire these linkages. The use of peer navigators within emergency department settings and post-overdose outreach programs are two approaches intended to connect with individuals soon after an overdose event to prevent future overdoses.
• Lacking Access to Naloxone: Most opioid overdoses can be quickly reversed using Naloxone (commonly known by the brand name ‘Narcan’). Everyone should consider being trained in how to recognize the signs of overdose, how to administer naloxone, and what steps to take during an overdose event – including having naloxone on hand or knowing where to quickly find it.
• Fear of Calling 911: Despite the presence of 911 Good Samaritan legislation in Massachusetts that provides limited legal protections for individuals who call 911 when witnessing an overdose, fear of calling 911 endures as a risk factor that delays medical intervention. Treating overdose as a medical event rather than a criminal legal event and minimizing fears of consequences (arrest, losing housing, losing children) would help address such concerns. Another approach to mitigate fear is police not being dispatched as part of the first responder team during overdose emergencies.
• Using Substances Alone: Consuming substances without others present means there is no bystander present to administer naloxone or to call 911. Services such as the Massachusetts Overdose Prevention Helpline helps ensure than nobody needs to use alone by connecting people with a trained operator that will monitor them to ensure safety and contact 911 if the person becomes non-responsive.
• Stigma: People who feel devalued, judged, unheard, and rejected are less likely to access services, seek help, or re-engage with services following a negative interaction. In 2015, Massachusetts launched the #StateWithoutStigMA campaign to raise awareness of the effects of continuing to stigmatize people who use drugs and promote use of the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline for individuals seeking linkages to services.

As we approach August 31st, consider taking steps to learn more about overdose risk, recognition, and response, and explore ways to promote this year’s theme, “recognizing those people who go unseen” using the hashtag #weseeyou. You can learn more about International Overdose Awareness Day and this year’s campaign by visiting this website: www.overdoseday.com.

The Lynnfield Public Library book suggestion for International Overdose Awareness Day: “Truth and Beauty” by Ann Patchett.