Overdose Awareness Day and Recovery Month

More than 1 million people, including 60,000 Ohioans, have died from unintentional drug overdoses in the United States since the year 2000.

These preventable deaths are the reason communities across Ohio and the nation come together each year on and around Aug. 31 for Overdose Awareness Day and throughout September for National Recovery Month.

The number of unintentional overdose deaths in Ohio fell 34% in 2024 to 2,931, according to the latest data from the Chronic Disease, Violence and Injury Epidemiology Section at the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). The 2024 figures were down from a peak of 5,174 in 2021, and they marked the third consecutive year that Ohio experienced a decline in overdose deaths.

"We have made a lot of progress, but we still have work to do," said ODH Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA. "During this month, we want to honor the lives tragically lost to overdose, support those on the path to recovery from substance use and mental health challenges and recognize the ongoing efforts across our state and country to help individuals rebuild their lives."

For more information:

• Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided with Naloxone). This ODH program coordinates a network of programs that provide overdose prevention materials, education, and harm reduction support throughout the state.
• NaloxoneOhio. Free naloxone for you, someone you know, or your organization.
• RecoveryRachel. Find information about mental health and addiction recovery services in Ohio.
• Take Charge Ohio. An initiative to help use pain medication safely and responsibly to minimize the risk of drug misuse, dependency, and addiction.
• RecoveryOhio.
• Ohio Department of Behavioral Health.
• ODH's Drug Overdose program webpage.
• ODH's Injury Surveillance and Data webpage.
• Ohio Against Overdoses (OH Against OD).
  • Access materials and information about overdose and naloxone.
• Ohio Overdose Prevention Network. The Ohio OPN coordinates a multi-sector, statewide effort to prevent drug overdose deaths by utilizing data-informed strategies to implement policy, education, and overdose prevention initiatives.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 or visit 988Lifeline.org for 24/7, confidential support.