Observing International Overdose Awareness Day
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) takes place annually on August 31st, and this year marks the 25th anniversary. This Monday, the Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center (MiPDC) will join various agencies and organizations to honor this significant day of remembrance and prevention.
The MiPDC and poison centers nationwide assist callers in managing poison-related concerns. Drug exposures are the leading cause of calls to poison centers across all age groups, with the majority being accidental exposures. However, it is crucial to recognize that a drug overdose can occur accidentally or intentionally.
The factors contributing to substance exposure or drug overdose are complex and may stem from situations only the individual is experiencing or can understand. Our mission is to support callers by offering clinical expertise on all types of poisonings, including drug overdoses, without any judgment.
On Friday, August 21, 2026, we hosted our Annual Overdose Awareness Event at Spirit Plaza in Detroit. We were thankful to partner with the Wayne Health Mobile Unit, Detroit Recovery Project, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and CARE of Southeast Michigan to promote overdose awareness. This event coincided with National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, allowing us to emphasize its importance.
The Detroit Recovery Project Inc. facilitated a public overdose rescue training session at this event. The MiPDC distributed naloxone and other valuable resources to help participants access local and statewide prevention and recovery sources and services. Several attendees shared their personal experiences with substance misuse and drug overdose, with some expressing profound grief over the loss of loved ones. These stories underscore the critical need for our ongoing efforts in prevention and public awareness regarding substance misuse and drug overdoses.
The theme for IOAD 2026 is “25 Years On. Still Needed.” Each day, the MiPDC team reinforces this message by promoting substance safety throughout our state.
Understand the following to help prevent substance misuse or work toward recovery.
Engage in conversations with your doctors and healthcare professionals regarding drug dependency concerns.
Explore treatment programs that effectively support individuals experiencing substance use disorders.
If you use, Never Use Alone. Discover more at www.neverusealone.com.
Access local and statewide hotlines and recovery resources at https://www.poison.med.wayne.edu/substance-use-disorder.
Properly dispose of old or expired medications. Visit https://www.poison.med.wayne.edu/medication-safety.
Create a safe environment for children and others by refraining from using substances and medications in their presence.
For more information and resources from the Michigan Poison & Drug Information Center, please call the Poison Helpline at 1-800-222-1222 and select extension 1 for the Hotline. We are here to help all callers 24/7, every day of the year.
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