According to The Penington Institute, "International Overdose Awareness Day was initiated in 2001 by Sally J Finn at The Salvation Army in St Kilda, Melbourne."

"International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind." People around the world hold in-person and virtual events every year on August 31.

BioMed Central has an information resource about International Overdose Awareness Day that may be of interest.

Several IOAD events are listed at The Penington Institute website.

A number of IOAD events are listed at the Moms Stop The Harm website.

Some other #IOAD2022 event lists and/or announcements:

Overdose Awareness Day Memorial in Portland, Oregon, sponsored by Outside In.

Drug User Liberation Front

Canadian Drug Policy Coalition

VOCAL New York

#IOAD #IOAD2022 #EndOverdose

Efforts in Vancouver, BC to establish a peer-led compassion club for procuring and distributing a safe supply of drugs have gained the support of Vancouver's chief medical officer. The Tyee reported on October 21, 2021:

"Vancouver’s chief medical health officer says she fully supports an attempt to establish a compassion club model to provide tested heroin, cocaine and meth to users as tainted street drugs continue to kill around six people a day in British Columbia.

"Dr. Patricia Daly made the comments during an update on the poisoned drugs crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic to Vancouver city council today.

"While prescribed safe supply programs are in place for some drug users who are at the greatest risk of dying from an overdose, 'we cannot prescribe our way out of the overdose crisis,' she said.

"Last week, Vancouver’s mayor and councillors voted to support an application for an exemption from Canada’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that would let a group called the Drug User Liberation Front procure and distribute tested drugs."

Earlier in October, the Vancouver City Council officially endorsed DULF's efforts to set up a compassion club. The Vancouver Sun reported on October 7, 2021:

"The City of Vancouver voted unanimously in favour of supporting a peer-led program that would help get a safe supply of drugs to individuals at high risk of overdose in the Downtown Eastside.

"Coun. Jean Swanson called for the approval of North America’s first compassion club that gives members access to prescription heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, in a council motion this week."

Drug User Liberation Front

Moms Stop The Harm

Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs

The Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs (CAPUD) is suing the government of Canada to decriminalize drug possession and casual transfer.

CAPUD is joined in this effort by the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, Moms Stop the Harm, and the Lethbridge Overdose Prevention Society.

The city of Vancouver has requested permission to decriminalize drug possession within Vancouver.

Similar efforts are being mounted in Toronto, Ontario, as well as the cities of Saskatoon and Regina in Saskatchewan.

The Drug User Liberation Front (DULF) in British Columbia is seeking permission from the Canadian government to establish a safe drug supply service modeled on the early cannabis buyers' clubs.

The Vancouver City Council recently voted to endorse DULF's request.

Vancouver already tried to set up its safe supply program however some argue that it's limited and much too difficult for many people to access.

The marijuana legalization and drug policy reform movements are part and parcel of the movement for social justice. Common Sense for Drug Policy Foundation, its board, and its staff are absolutely opposed to racism and fascism, and we are appalled and disgusted by white supremacists. The events in #Charlottesville, especially the tragic death of Heather Heyer along with the other violent acts perpetrated by neo-Nazis, KKK, and their sympathizers, are unacceptable in any civilized society, and must be condemned in the strongest way possible. It is not enough to stand idly by and watch.

Jason Riley, writing at the Wall Street Journal on August 8, 2017 (“Legalizing Pot Is a Bad Way to Promote Racial Equality” https://www.wsj.com/articles/… ) "blacks commit violent crimes at seven to 10 times the rate whites do." That assertion is simply false. There is no good evidence that any racial or ethnic group is more inclined to violence or criminal activity than another, it's an assumption that's racist and wrong.