August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day

As we stop to observe International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, it’s important to remember the person behind the overdose. Overdoses occur when an overwhelming amount of a substance enters the body and overloads the system. Overdoses can happen from prescription drugs, alcohol, recreational drugs, and even herbal remedies. When overdoses occur, the body is deprived of oxygen which eventually shuts down vital organs like the heart and brain.

Grief travels very closely to the people who have been affected by overdose, and the number of people who are is growing year by year in our province. So far in 2025, we’ve lost twenty Nova Scotians to overdoses (https://novascotia.ca/opioid/).  Family and friends of people who use are intimately aware of the hardships of addictions. It’s always important to remember your loved ones are still there, even if in their daily lives they become unrecognizable.

Keeping strong and healthy boundaries around caring for yourself is the first and easiest way to help when your loved ones are struggling with addictions. People seek help for their addictions when they are ready. Precursors for addiction and subsequent overdose include trauma, over prescribing of medications and an inability to cope with life's stresses. Loving your loved ones through every stage of their lives will remind them you are there, you see them, and when they find their way back to a more healthy version of themselves, you can have a more active role in their lives. When we reduce judgement, keeping shame and blame to a minimum we can start opening up honest and informed conversations about overdoses.  

Harm Reduction Strategies

If you or anyone you know is at a higher risk of overdose these are important harm reducing strategies to keep in mind:

• Always use with someone else present. 1-888-688-NORS is an overdose prevention support phone line.

• Avoid mixing drugs/alcohol or taking more medication than is prescribed.

• Having the life saving medication Naloxone on hand can save vital minutes if someone is experiencing an overdose. It’s an essential first aid kit addition for anyone who is at risk of an overdose and anyone prescribed opioids.  Visit Twin Oaks Hospital, Eastern Shore Memorial Hospital, Musquodoboit Valley Memorial Hospital and Superstore pharmacies to pick up a free Naloxone kit. Check the expiry date on your Naloxone kit regularly.

• The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects people calling in a suspected overdose if they are concerned about simple drug possession charges.

  
  

Anyone can have an overdose at any time and being able to support our vulnerable populations in this way saves lives.

If you have questions about resources or programming around topics relating to addiction and overdose, or anything related to mental health and wellness, make a call to our Navigator your first call.