“The United States once again topped 100,000 deaths from drug overdoses in 2022, with recent deaths rising fastest among Black and Indigenous communities. Overdose is now the leading cause of death for people under 50 in the U.S.

On International Overdose Awareness Day, observed each year on Aug. 31, we honor lives lost to overdose and recognize the harms of stigma toward people who use drugs—that it not only heightens the risks of drug use, but also mars the memory of those lost to overdose.

This year, Vital Strategies has joined hundreds of organizations and government agencies across the country that are mounting community memorial events to raise awareness and support for harm reduction services—a proven public health solution to the overdose crisis.”

Read further from Vital Strategies (USA, August 2023)

As #IOAD approaches we have to continue to speak about how the research conclusively finds that racial disparities in healthcare settings have worsened the overdose crisis in Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other people of color communities. #EndOverdose https://t.co/tyNpwSaSKu

— Vital Strategies (@VitalStrat) August 29, 2023