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Julie Naughton, Office of Communications, (402) 471-1695 (office); (402) 405-7202 (cell);
julie.naughton@nebraska.gov;
Lincoln – Local communities in Nebraska and around the world are coming together on Monday, August 31 for International Overdose Awareness Day to remember those who have died or suffered permanent injury due to substance use disorder (SUD). There are friends and family behind every individual with SUD and every person who overdosed.
On Monday, August 31, the State Capitol will be lit up in purple in honor and remembrance of those who have died as a result of a drug overdose. The Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Behavioral Health invites individuals, organizations, families, treatment facilities, and everyone who would like to team up with the Division's effort to remember loved ones, their friends and families, and end overdose. The day kicks off September's Recovery Month observance.
In conjunction with the overdose observance day, the Division of Behavioral Health's Office of Consumer Affairs holds its Lights of Hope event each year. Due to COVID-19, this year's event is being held online rather than in person, but it's still possible to personalize a virtual candle to remember a loved one. If you or someone you know are interested in lighting a virtual candle, please use the following link to personalize and submit your entry: http://dhhs.ne.gov/RecoveryMonth
“Overdose can affect anybody and one of the messages of this day is that the people who overdose are our sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters – they are loved and they are missed," said Sheri Dawson, director of the Division of Behavioral Health. “No family should ever have to go through the pain of losing a loved one alone. People and communities are coming together to start conversations, raise awareness and normalize the discussion of substance use prevention, treatment and recovery. Those conversations deliver the message that there is hope, there is help, and people can and do recover. Start a conversation to save a life."
Drug overdose deaths in the United States rose 4.6% in 2019 to 70,980, including 50,042 involving opioids, according to data released in July 2020 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recent reports also show there has been a national spike in overdose deaths since the pandemic began: https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2020-08/issue-brief-increases-in-opioid-related-overdose.pdf
Thanks to the work of so many Nebraskans, our rate of drug overdose is low, but opioid overdose deaths are a growing concern in Nebraska. In 2018, 155 people died of a drug overdose and at least 67 of those deaths were opioid related. Nebraska's drug overdose death rate per 100,000 people has increased from 3.6 in 2004 to 8.03 in 2018, which still places Nebraska around 49th out of 50 states.
However, there is more work to do. Opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution (Narcan) ensure Nebraskans with an opioid use disorder have another chance to achieve recovery. If you have a loved one with an opioid use disorder, the Division of Public Health has a standing medical order to Nebraska pharmacies, including Walgreens and HyVee, to dispense Narcan without a prescription. Nebraska's Division of Behavioral Health has also used federal grant money to support opioid addiction prevention, treatment and recovery through different programs.
Looking for treatment options? Talk with your healthcare provider or call the Nebraska Family Helpline to find a resource near you. They can be reached at (888) 866-8660.
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) seeks to create better understanding of overdose, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths, and encourage those experiencing a substance use disorder to seek treatment. In 2019, there were 874 IOAD events of all kinds, held in 39 countries. A full list of the IOAD 2020 events currently planned around the world will be displayed at: https://www.overdoseday.com/activities-2020/