Overdose awareness needs to be part of every community

International Overdose Awareness Day Aug. 31 is the world’s most extensive annual campaign to end drug overdose. Unfortunately, the problems of drug overdose have impacted every community across the nation and the families that live within these communities.

At the center of this epidemic are opioids. Provisional data from the CDC reported of nearly 110,000 drug overdoses nationally in 2022, about three-quarters were attributed to opioids.

Texas has been experiencing a drug overdose epidemic. The state’s drug poisoning deaths increased by more than 75% in the past five years.

From 2017 to 2021, they nearly doubled from 9.4 deaths per 100 thousand residents to 15.8 deaths, according to the state health services.

In the public health region which Kendall County is situated in, there were 197 fentanyl poisoning-related deaths in 2023. In the state, there were 2,293 fentanyl-related deaths in 2023, according to Texas Health Data.

Overdose prevention campaigns work tirelessly to prevent these deaths, especially among young people. Countless overdose deaths are attributed to fake prescription drugs and illicit street drugs laced with fentanyl.

Fortunately, there are resources, tools and information that individuals, families and communities can use to increase awareness, prevent overdose and save lives.

Locally, there is the Kendall County Giving Connections, a nonprofit and community organization that connects Kendall County area nonprofits and community-based organizations with local residents.

There is also the Texas Opioid Training Initiative, which offers resources for improving clinical practices, improving access to naloxone, and connecting people to treatment. Finally, the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance works on the ground with people battling addiction.

Nationally, the International Overdose Awareness Day website provides extensive resources and ways to get involved. The National Harm Reduction Coalition offers evidence-based strategies that reduce the risk of overdose. Finally, the National Safety Council provides resources for the workplace.

Overdose is preventable, and anyone can begin increasing their awareness right now.

Initially, it is crucial to keep in mind that stigma or the fear of stigma stops individuals from sharing their addiction problems with their friends or family. Stigma can come from individuals, family members, clinicians or the community. Begin by removing the stigma.

Moreover, you should become familiar with the facts about fentanyl and fentanyl analogs. Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.

You should also become familiar with polysubstance use facts. Polysubstance use occurs when two or more drugs are taken together, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

The primary risk factors associated with overdose include mixing drugs, tolerance, quality of the drug, using alone, age and physical health, mode of administration and previous non-fatal overdoses.

Finally, familiarize yourself with life-saving Naloxone. In 2023, Narcan was made available in the state without a prescription. Naloxone Texas distributes naloxone and evidence-based training to organizations and individuals across Texas. It is also available at any CVS or Walgreens pharmacy across the state.

Every individual action matters and coming together as a community creates a decisive collective action.

Overdose awareness is for everyone, such as people who use drugs and those who don’t, families who have lost loved ones, healthcare workers, advocates and activists. These are necessary steps everyone can take to save lives, protect communities, and safeguard families.

Michael Leach has spent most of his career as a healthcare professional specializing in substance use & addiction recovery. He is a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Public Relations Officer at DRS.