International Overdose Awareness Day + Recovery Month

August 31 is a day to remember those who have died from overdose and to acknowledge the grief and loss of the family and friends left behind. It is also a time to renew a commitment to action and to remember that prevention works, help is available, and recovery is possible for everyone. CDC’s Division of Overdose Prevention in the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control is marking the day with the release of two new articles, showing the latest trends on drug overdose in the United States.

  1. A new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report [click.connect.hhs.gov] analyzes emergency medical services data and highlights trends in nonfatal opioid-involved overdoses. This report identifies disparities in overdose rates by patient and county characteristics, and provides strategies on what can be done to decrease overdose.
  2. An up-to-date CDC’s State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System COVID-19 data brief [click.connect.hhs.gov] describes overarching COVID-19-related themes that may have contributed to increased overdose deaths during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the identified themes, this brief gives examples of prevention approaches that can be used in future public health emergencies to help reduce overdose deaths.



National Recovery Month, which started in 1989, is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the nation’s strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and communities who make recovery in all its forms possible. SAMHSA provides resources for Recovery Month including social media content, graphics and newsletter articles. 

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