Today's International Overdose Awareness Day Feels Different
Today, August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day. It is a global event held each year that aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of drug overdose.
But this year, this day feels heavier than it ever has.
We are in the midst of a pandemic that has ravaged our communities, witnessing heightened levels of civil unrest and we are still in the middle of an opioid epidemic that has only worsened.
Last year, we celebrated the first decline in annual overdoses in seven years. I’m afraid that this year, we have no news to celebrate. 2019 saw a 5% increase in overdose deaths and early numbers for 2020 are showing this number to be even higher.
The impact of COVID-19 forced us to cut back on in-person services and switch to telehealth services instead. We are just now beginning to see how that reduction in face-to-face interaction during the most isolating period in our lifetime has affected our patients.
But there is something you can do! In fact we have listed out a number of ways you can participate on this International Overdose Awareness Day.
Save a Life, Carry Naloxone: It is now even easier to receive an overdose prevention kit from us. Due to COVID-19, we have suspended all in-person overdose prevention trainings. Instead, CCHP is mailing out free kits to anyone in New York City. Click here to read more and sign up for a free kit.
Sign the Petition:Increase Access to Telehealth Services for Substance Use Disorder The COVID-19 pandemic is currently devastating patients living with addiction and we are tragically seeing a historic increase in overdoses and deaths. Sadly, it is possible that this trend may continue if treatment access is limited. That’s why we’re asking Members of Congress to support the bipartisan, bicameral Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Services (TREATS) Act in the next COVID-19 legislative package.
Donate: We need your support now more than ever (and we really mean it)! We are currently waiting to see if the federal government will provide more financial aid to substance use providers, such as CCHP. In the meantime, a donation to CCHP will help us continue providing much needed and crucial treatment and prevention services to our patients.
Learn More: We have put together a selection of resources from the past few months to help one better understand how COVID-19 is impacting the opioid epidemic, addiction and people’s mental health.
Opioid Addiction Is 'A Disease Of Isolation,' So Pandemic Puts Recovery At Risk NPR; March 27, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic is pushing America into a mental health crisis The Washington Post; May 4, 2020
This Is Not a Normal Mental-Health Disaster The Atlantic; July 7, 2020
In Shadow of Pandemic, U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths Resurge to Record New York Times; July 15, 2020
Still here: Fighting the opioid epidemic during a pandemic AMA Moving Moving Medicine Podcast; August 12, 2020
U.S. Sees Deadly Drug Overdose Spike During Pandemic NPR; August 13, 2020
Coronavirus pandemic leading to depression and drinking, CDC says The Hill; August 13, 2020
Fighting Back against the Stigma of Addiction Scientific American; September 202
At CCHP we are committed to ending overdose and ask you to join us.