RENO, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) — Join Together Northern Nevada (JTNN) and community partners will celebrate International Overdose Awareness Day through a week-long series of events that everyone can enjoy. These events will take place from August 26 to August 30 and are designed to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and remember those affected by an overdose.
- Aug. 26 – Naloxone training hosted by Life Change Center will be held at Anthem Community Wellness Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Community members can learn how to administer the medication to reverse an opioid overdose and receive a free Narcan kit.
- Aug. 27 – “No Stigma, No Shame” will be held at the National Automobile Museum from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Powerful stories will be shared by speakers who have overcome substance use challenges to provide hope and inspiration to others.
- Aug. 28 – The Reno Sparks Indian Colony will host a Flower Pot Painting Night at the Reno Sparks Tribal Health Center on Aug. 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., fostering community connection and healing through creativity.
- Aug. 29 – Community members will join “Steps Toward Recovery,” a walk around Sparks Marina from 5 to 7:30 p.m., to remember those lost to overdoses and unite in hope for the future.
- Aug. 30 – Naloxone training hosted by New Dawn Treatment Center (location and time TBA) and Recovery Olympics presented by Reps4Recovery and The Life Change Center will be held at Dick Taylor Park at 11 a.m. Participants will have the opportunity to play field games with the community.
International Drug Overdose Awareness Day aims to raise awareness and eliminate the stigma surrounding drug-related deaths, honor those who have died from or been affected by a drug overdose, and spark important conversations about prevention. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 107,543 lives were lost to drug overdoses in 2023.
“Our shared grief creates a message and example of hope – a powerful weapon in the fight against overdose deaths. We encourage all members of our community to learn the signs of an overdose, how to save a life, and remove the stigma around overdose deaths. We will recover!” Executive Director Ann Elizabeth Northan said in a statement.
You can find out more about International Overdose Awareness Day here and register here.