International Overdose Awareness Day 2025: A Day of Remembrance, Education, and Action

Every year on August 31, communities around the world come together for International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD). It is a day of remembrance, compassion, and action. A time to honour the lives lost to overdose, to hold close those who grieve, and to strengthen our collective commitment to creating a safer and more supportive future.

In Kamloops, this year’s events are being led by the Interior Women’s Centre, with Day One Society joining alongside many community partners to help share the message of hope, dignity, and connection. As an organization dedicated to supporting people on their journey of recovery, Day One Society is honoured to help amplify this important day and stand in solidarity with all who have been impacted by overdose.

The day will begin at the Kamloops Paramount Theatre at 2:30 p.m. with a donation-based screening of Love in the Time of Fentanyl. Guests will also hear from speakers who will share heartfelt stories and reflections on drug policy, safety, and lived experience. Community booths will be open to offer resources, harm reduction education, and compassionate support for anyone seeking it.

As the sun sets, the community will gather at Riverside Park for a candlelit vigil beginning at 7:30 p.m. Together, we will light 575 candles, each flame representing a life taken too soon by the toxic drug supply in Kamloops since 2016. These lights are not just symbols of loss but also of love, resilience, and the collective strength of a community determined to stand together in the face of grief.

“August 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), a global campaign to end overdosing. In 2025, it is important to highlight the concerning rise in stimulant-involved overdose deaths, noting that stimulants are now involved in most fatal overdose, often in combination with opioids. Please use this day to remember loved ones who have died from drug overdose and acknowledge the grief of those left behind. We can all help end overdose by talking openly about this issue, which can reduce stigma associated with drug use and make it easier for people to reach out for help if they have concerns about themselves or a loved one,” shares Siân Lewis, Executive Director of Day One Society.

This important day of remembrance is made possible through the dedication of volunteers and community members who step forward with compassion. Support is needed for set-up and take-down, welcoming visitors as both ambassadors, sharing experiences as speakers, and providing peer support and navigation. Honorariums will be offered to peers who lend their voices and presence to the day. If you would like to help create this meaningful event, please contact awareness@interiorwomenscentre.org.

Since 2016, more than 575 lives have been lost to the toxic drug supply in Kamloops. Behind each number is a story, a family, and a community forever changed. International Overdose Awareness Day reminds us that while we grieve deeply, we can also come together with compassion and purpose. By opening conversations, breaking down stigma, and ensuring that support is available, we create pathways to hope and healing.

At Day One Society, we are honoured to walk alongside our community on this journey. On this day, and every day, we remember those we have lost, support those who carry grief, and remain committed to building a future where help and understanding are always within reach. Together, as one family driven by hope, we can create change.