International Overdose Awareness Day: Recognizing the Signs and Finding Help in North Texas

Written by: Content Marketing Team

Clinically Reviewed By: Donnita Smart, LCDC

Last Reviewed: August 24, 2026

What Is International Overdose Awareness Day?

International Overdose Awareness Day is a global campaign observed every August 31 to remember people who have died of overdose, acknowledge the grief carried by the families and friends left behind, raise awareness, and promote evidence-based overdose prevention and support. Organizers and the CDC both describe it as the world’s largest annual campaign addressing overdose. Communities may mark the day through vigils, educational events, remembrance activities, and naloxone-access initiatives, though specific events vary by community.

Where Overdose Trends Stand Right Now

The national picture has been improving, though it’s still serious. The CDC’s latest provisional estimate, released July 15, 2026, predicts 68,641 drug overdose deaths for the 12 months ending in February 2026, a 12.1% decline from the preceding 12-month period. That follows CDC’s final 2024 mortality data, which recorded 79,384 overdose deaths nationally, with the age-adjusted overdose death rate falling 26.2% (from 31.3 to 23.1 per 100,000) compared with 2023. Taken together, the latest national estimate is now near or slightly below pre-pandemic levels. That’s real, encouraging progress, but these figures are provisional and subject to revision, and prevention, harm-reduction, emergency-response, and treatment efforts all remain important to keeping the trend moving in the right direction.

Texas has generally tracked below the national overdose death rate. In the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas’s analysis of death-certificate data, Texas recorded about 19 drug-related deaths per 100,000 residents in 2022 (the national peak year in that series), compared with approximately 33.6 nationally. According to a Dallas Fed analysis of preliminary 2024 data, Texas drug-related deaths fell approximately 12% after peaking in 2023. Even so, the Dallas Fed estimates that Texas lost more than 76,000 people to drug overdoses between 1999 and 2024, and unlike the national trend, Texas deaths remain above pre-pandemic levels. A separate 2023 Perryman Group economic analysis (not an official state estimate) put the opioid crisis’s annual cost to Texas at approximately $102.4 billion based on 2022 conditions, including medical care, treatment, public safety expenses, and lost productivity.

One notable difference from the national picture: from 2019 through 2023, fentanyl was involved in approximately 34% of fatal overdoses in Texas, compared with about 62% nationally, according to the Dallas Fed analysis. Texas’s lower fentanyl involvement and lower overdose death rate don’t make the state’s burden insignificant. Substances involved in fatal overdoses vary by case, and deaths may involve more than one drug.

Recognizing an Overdose and What to Do

Naloxone can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose when given promptly, but more than one dose may be needed, and emergency medical care is still required. Signs of a possible opioid overdose can include unconsciousness or inability to awaken, slow or stopped breathing, choking or gurgling sounds, a limp body, pinpoint pupils, and pale, blue, gray, or otherwise discolored lips, nails, or skin. If you see these signs, call 911 immediately and give naloxone right away if it’s available, following the product instructions and the dispatcher’s directions.

In March 2023, the FDA approved Narcan 4 mg nasal spray as the first naloxone product available over the counter without a prescription, and other OTC naloxone nasal sprays have since been approved. Naloxone will not reverse a non-opioid overdose, but it’s generally safe to give when opioid involvement is uncertain; it may cause sudden withdrawal symptoms in someone who is physically dependent on opioids. If the person doesn’t respond, or breathing problems return, give another dose after two to three minutes using a new nasal-spray device, since each device holds one dose and naloxone wears off faster than many opioids do. Continue following the product instructions until emergency help arrives. Stay with the person, place them on their side if they’re breathing, and follow the 911 dispatcher’s directions about rescue breathing or CPR if they’re not breathing normally.

This information is for general education and does not replace emergency medical care or the instructions supplied with a naloxone product. Call 911 for a suspected overdose.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is International Overdose Awareness Day?

It’s observed every year on August 31, regardless of what day of the week that falls on.

Is the overdose crisis getting better?

The latest national data shows overdose deaths declining and now near or slightly below pre-pandemic levels, which is encouraging. Texas has also seen a preliminary decline, though Texas deaths remain above pre-pandemic levels. These are provisional figures, and progress isn’t guaranteed to continue without ongoing prevention, harm-reduction, and treatment efforts.

Where can I get naloxone (Narcan) in Texas?

OTC naloxone nasal spray is available at many pharmacies, retailers, and online sellers, though stock and placement vary. Texas DSHS also maintains a locator for organizations offering free or reduced-cost naloxone. Ask the pharmacist if you don’t see it on the shelf.

What if I’m worried about my own substance use, not just someone else’s?

Concern about your own substance use is a valid reason to seek a professional assessment. Treatment may include outpatient services or more structured levels of care. A licensed clinician can assess your needs and discuss which options may be appropriate.

References

[1] International Overdose Awareness Day. Campaign overview, overdoseday.com.
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Provisional and final overdose death data, National Vital Statistics System, 2026.
[3] Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. “Has the Opioid Crisis Peaked in Texas and the U.S.?” Southwest Economy, 2025.
[4] U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Narcan (naloxone HCl) nasal spray OTC approval, March 2023.
[5] The Perryman Group. Economic impact analysis of the opioid crisis in Texas, 2023.

Crisis and Support Resources: If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use or having thoughts of suicide, help is available 24/7. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 (HELP). If someone has overdosed or is in immediate danger, call 911 right away.

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. If you have questions about your own health or a loved one’s, talk with a licensed healthcare provider.

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Chris Goodman

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