Communities host overdose awareness and naloxone training events

Municipalities in the United States and Canada are conducting community outreach and training programs to observe Overdose Awareness Month, leading up to International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31.

In Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, local officials have paired remembrance with free naloxone distribution and overdose response training. The town’s approach involves partnerships with organizations like WakeUp Carolina and the Charleston Center to provide resources for various demographics, including young adults and parents. The South Carolina Department of Health reported over 1,000 overdose deaths in the state during 2024. The local observance includes a ceremony at Town Hall featuring Narcan training and a luminary event.

In Maple Ridge, British Columbia, the group Storm (Stop Overdose Ridge Meadows) is organizing a ‘Dine With Us’ event at Memorial Peace Park on August 31. The event aims to honor those lost to the toxic drug crisis while providing naloxone education and information on recovery and treatment services. The initiative includes the Purple Chair Project, using empty chairs as symbols of those lost to the crisis. Organizers noted that more than 18,000 British Columbians have died due to the drug crisis.