International Overdose Awareness Day 2024: “Together We Can”
International Overdose Awareness Day 2024: “Together We Can”
Every year on August 31, communities around the world come together to observe International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD): the largest global campaign aimed at ending overdose, reducing stigma, and remembering the friends and loved ones who have lost their lives throughout the opioid crisis.
Sadly, the devastating impact of the overdose crisis continues to grow. In 2023, over 8,000 people died of opioid overdose in Canada – 7% more than the year before. Hospitalizations also rose by 16% to over 6,300. More than 8 in 10 deaths involved fentanyl and nearly 9 in 10 were caused by non-prescribed drugs. In reality these numbers are much higher with many incidents, especially in underserved and marginalized communities, going unreported.
In spite of this, International Overdose Awareness Day acts as a beacon of hope, highlighting the importance of solidarity and collective action. This year’s theme, “Together We Can,” emphasizes the power of unity and collaboration in tackling the overdose crisis. It speaks to the incredible strength we possess when we come together as a community, supporting one another towards a common goal of saving lives from toxic illicit fentanyl.
How we’re helping end overdose
Our efforts are focused on ending the overdose crisis through collaboration and innovative approaches to care. We are deeply committed to working with a wide range of partners including governments, policymakers, community leaders and healthcare to make treatment more accessible and effective, ensuring that those in need can receive the help they require. We’re working with:
Hospital emergency room departments – Connecting people presenting with acute opioid poisoning to evidence-based Opioid Agonist Treatment at our community clinics.
Public service partners – Providing our Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program to people in desperate need of remotely-accessible addiction care through public services.
Government officials – Moving the dial on innovative solutions for accessible treatment to support vulnerable populations.
Referent partners – Opening doors to effective treatment for a diverse patient population with unique needs.
We are also active in communities across Canada, providing lifesaving access to treatment and supportive services. Our integrated care model is a testament to this year’s theme, demonstrating that the collaboration of our clinic and pharmacy divisions and ancillary programs leads to better health outcomes by eliminating barriers to holistic and compassionate care.
Our outpatient opioid addiction treatment services are guided by our Physician Advisory Group, who bring a collective 200 years of experience in Opioid Agonist Therapy, focusing on evolving care approaches using internal patient outcome data and other evidence-based methods.
Our Impact
Accessing Care – Last year, we helped over 18,500 people across Canada, making us the largest treatment provider in the country.
Distributing Naloxone Kits – We distributed over 23,000 Naloxone kits in 2023, equipping individuals with the tools and education they need to prevent overdose deaths.
Improving Lives – According to our most recent patient engagement survey, 92% of OAT patients say we improved their lives.
International Overdose Awareness Day is a call to action for everyone. “Together we can” highlights the strength and potential of our community when we unite against this deadly crisis. By committing to compassionate, inclusive, and evidence-based solutions across the full spectrum of care, we can prevent overdoses and save lives. Together, we can make a difference.