|
International Overdose
Awareness Day 2026
| | Time to remember - honor our first responders and those who have passed | | Help spread the word. Click the image below, copy and paste it, then text it to a friend or family member looking for a job. | | |
International Overdose Awareness Day Calls Us to Act
The issue of drug overdoses is one that all political parties can find common ground on. Democrats and Republicans should unite to save lives.
| |
Dear Reader,
International Overdose Awareness Day reminds us that the overdose crisis does not stop at any border. It is not only an American, Chicago, or Illinois problem. It is an international public health emergency that affects families, neighborhoods, and nations around the world. On this day, we remember every life lost, stand with every grieving family, and renew our commitment to preventing tragedies.
Addiction does not discriminate by race, income, political party, nationality, or ZIP code. Our response must be equally broad. This issue should bring Democrats and Republicans together. Saving lives is not partisan. Expanding access to treatment, supporting prevention and recovery services, addressing the flow of dangerous drugs, and ensuring that lifesaving medications are available should be shared priorities at every level of government.
We must also recognize the people who respond when someone’s life hangs in the balance. Police officers and other law enforcement personnel, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and firefighters respond to overdose emergencies. Their courage, preparation, and compassion have given countless people another chance to live, seek treatment, rebuild relationships, and return to their families.
We should also honor community members, outreach workers, health professionals, educators, family members, business owners, and others trained to administer naloxone, commonly known as Narcan. Anyone who recognizes an overdose, responds without hesitation, administers Narcan, and helps reverse it has performed lifesaving emergency response. In that critical moment, that person is a first responder, and I believe we should recognize them as such.
Making Narcan widely available and training more people to use it does not encourage drug use. It prevents death. A person cannot begin recovery, accept treatment, repair their life, or reunite with loved ones if they do not survive an overdose. Every reversal creates another opportunity for healing and hope.
International Overdose Awareness Day must be more than a date on the calendar. It must be a global call to action. Let us reduce stigma, strengthen treatment and mental health services, invest in prevention, support families, and place Narcan wherever it is needed. Let us thank everyone who has saved a life and remember those we have lost.
Together, across parties, communities, states, and nations, we can address addiction with urgency and humanity. We can save lives, offer second chances, and build a future where fewer families endure the heartbreak of overdose.
Solidarity,
La Shawn K. Ford
IL State Representative, Eighth District
| |
Recognizing the Importance of International Overdose Awareness Day
A Time to Reflect and Act
| |
International Overdose Awareness Day is a global observance dedicated to honoring the lives lost to drug overdoses, supporting grieving families, and raising awareness about the ongoing opioid crisis. It serves as both a day of remembrance and a call to action, encouraging communities to confront stigma, promote prevention, and advocate for equitable access to treatment and recovery resources. By reflecting on the impact of overdose, we are reminded of the urgent need for compassion, education, and policies
that save lives.
| | |
National Today Reports
August 31, 2026
| |
International Overdose
Awareness Day
| | International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31 serves as a crucial global call to action, remembering those lost to drug overdose and acknowledging the grief of families left behind. This day aims to reduce the pervasive stigma surrounding drug-related deaths and promote understanding of overdose prevention and support. Take action by educating yourself, sharing resources, and advocating for compassionate, evidence-based solutions. | |
|
ABC 7 News Reports
August 28, 2026
| Overdose Awareness Day event to be held at South Side Cultural Center | CHICAGO (WLS) -- An Overdose Awareness Day event will be held Monday, August 31 at the South Side Cultural Center in Chicago. | Click image below to print | | Rep. Ford's Track Record in Supporting Overdose Awareness Day | | Rep. La Shawn K. Ford has consistently used International Overdose Awareness Day to highlight the urgent need for action against the opioid crisis. From championing past measures like House Bill 2 to now leading efforts on HB2929 in the 104th General Assembly, Ford has called for establishing overdose prevention sites on Chicago’s West Side. His advocacy underscores a commitment to saving lives, reducing harm, and ensuring Illinois takes bold, bipartisan steps toward recovery and prevention. | | |
Austin Weekly News Reports
August 29, 2025
| Opioid taskforce looks to keep saving lives, worries about fed cuts | |
Though International Overdose Awareness Day is Aug. 31, a day of recognition for those who have lost their lives from overdose, the West Side Heroin and Opioid Taskforce works to reduce overdoses on Chicago’s West Side every day.
“There is an international problem with heroin overdoses . . . and we understand it right here on the West Side,” said La Shawn Ford, state representative of the 8th district, during an Aug. 29 press conference at the corner of Central Avenue and Corcoran Place in Austin.
| |
Illinois House Democratic Caucus Reports
March 13, 2025
|
Blue Room Thursday: Ford Highlights Overdose Prevention Site Pilot
Program Effort
| |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Emphasizing the opportunity to save lives, state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, will lead a Blue Room press conference with advocates Thursday to discuss his proposal for the Department of Human Services (DHS) to create and implement an Overdose Prevention Site pilot program.
Ford will join the Illinois Harm Reduction and Recovery Coalition in the Capitol Blue Room this Thursday, March 13 at 11:30 a.m. to discuss the plan
| Click image below to view HB2929, sponsored by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford. | |
Click image below to learn more information about
Rep. Ford's Illinois harm Reduction and
Recovery Coalition
| |
The Weekly Citizen Reports
March 18, 2017
| | State Rep. La Shawn Ford Host Town Hall Meeting to Discuss Opioid Crisis | | |
“The West Side Heroin Task Force held a town hall meeting on March 18, 2017, to discuss the opioid crisis. Elected officials, state agencies and
Chicago organizations invited the public to Malcom X College, located on 1900 W. Blvd., to learn more about drug use, prevention, response, treatment, and recovery,” according to a Illinois e-News Release.
Congressman Danny Davis said he plans for Representative La Shawn Ford to be one of the leaders that will help him deal with the issues and questions of substance abuse and opioid abuse.
| |
|
Forest Park Review Reports
September 6, 2022
| Leaders unite for International Overdose Awareness Day | | |
State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (8th), the West Side Heroin Task Force founder, said he lost two close relatives to overdoses.
“The thing about this disease is that it’s international,” he said. “So no matter what color you are or what community you’re from, we are united today because it’s attacking all of our communities and families. I lost my favorite uncle, who used to take me to the racetrack and taught me how to bet on the horses. I also lost my favorite cousin, who allowed me to cut his hair even though I had no clue what I was doing. Those are two dear people I’ve lost to the heroin opioid crisis.”
| |
|
ABC 7 News Reports
August 31, 2023
| |
International Overdose Awareness Day organizers hope to reduce opioid-related fatalities
| | |
According to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, there were a record 2,000 opioid overdose deaths in 2022. They reported that more than half of the victims are African American and more than 91% of opioid overdose deaths involve fentanyl, which is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine.
State Rep. Lashawn Ford is supporting the community of drug treatment advocates.
"More people die on the West Side of Chicago than any location in the state of Illinois," Ford said.
| |
|
Illinois Democratic Caucus News Reports
August 29, 2024
| | Ford to Join Round Table Panel on Overdose Awareness | | |
–In advance of International Overdose Awareness Day, state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D- Chicago, will join the Illinois Harm Reduction and Recovery Coalition for a round table panel discussion Wednesday, Aug. 28 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Healthcare Alternative Systems Community Room, located at 4734 W. Chicago Ave. on Chicago’s West Side.
“Overdose deaths continue to take a significant toll on families across our community, but there is hope,” Ford said. “Together we can make a real impact that values every life with the respect and
support that everyone deserves. As we mark International Overdose Awareness Day, I’m excited to join leaders on this panel who are working hard every day to make a difference with evidence-based solutions.”
Wednesday’s round table will feature Dr. Tanya Sorrell of Rush University Medical Center, Sam Rivera of OnPoint NYC and Dr. Jenny Hua from the Chicago Department of Public Health. The event will also include a mock overdose prevention site and harm reduction resources.
| | |
Lawndale Nes Reports
August 29, 2024
| Ford, West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force to Host 5th International Overdose Awareness Day on Chicago’s West Side | |
This Friday, the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force and their convener state Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, will be hosting their 5th Annual International Overdose Awareness Day Community Resource Fair and Outreach Event. The event will bring together over 50 members of the Task Force from Chicago and beyond to call for harm reduction services and programs aimed at reducing overdose deaths.
| |
|
Rep. Ford Champions Harm Reduction
Illinois Marks First Solidarity Week to Combat Opioid Crisis
| | Illinois State Rep. La Shawn Ford is intensifying efforts to combat the opioid epidemic by championing overdose prevention initiatives and establishing the state’s first Harm Reduction Solidarity Week, held April 14–20. Ford, a longtime advocate for drug treatment, filed House Resolution 665 to spotlight harm reduction tools such as clean needle access, Narcan distribution, and medication-assisted recovery programs. At an April 17 news conference in Springfield, Ford joined health officials and advocates to highlight the disproportionate impact of fentanyl-related overdoses on Black communities and push for pilot overdose prevention sites in Illinois. Ford stressed that the initiative is not about encouraging drug use but about saving lives and ending stigma against those with substance use disorders. | |
Forest Park Review Reports
April 22, 2024
| |
Rep. La Shawn Ford spotlights opioid crisis with Harm Reduction Solidarity Week
| |
At a news conference in Springfield April 17, Ford was joined by the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, Sameer Vohra, and the Illinois Harm Reduction and Recovery Coalition, along with other advocates, to spotlight the crisis and efforts to stop it and to save lives.
“We were educating the Springfield members, and all those that listen, about how important it is to have what you call harm reduction tools in our community,” Ford said.
| |
|
Click Image Below to Read
Rep. Ford's Bill on Harm Reduction Week, HR665.
| | |
Remembering Prince
(1958-2015)
| | |
History Reports
April 20, 2024
| Legendary musician and megawatt star Prince dies at 57 | | |
On the morning of April 21, 2016, Prince, the virtuosic musician who created more than 30 albums and won seven Grammy Awards over a 40-year career, is found dead in Paisley Park, his Minnesota home and recording studio. The cause of death was an accidental overdose of the opioid fentanyl. He was 57 years old.
In the hours and days after the news broke, fans around the world mourned his death with massive memorials. In a statement, President Obama said, “Few artists have influenced the sound and trajectory of popular music more distinctly, or touched quite so many people with their talent.”
| | |
"The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves."
-Prince, American singer and multi-instrumentalist
| Prince - Purple Rain (Official Video) | | |
The Overdose Crisis
Worldwide Impact and Numbers
| | The overdose crisis has become a global public health emergency, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives each year. Rising rates of opioid use, particularly fentanyl and other synthetic drugs, have driven overdose deaths to unprecedented levels worldwide. This crisis affects not only major urban centers but also rural communities, with devastating social and economic consequences. Public health experts stress the need for harm reduction strategies, increased access to treatment, and global cooperation to address the escalating epidemic. | |
Unintentional Drug Overdose Death Rate per 100,000 People by Census Tract, February 2025 – January 2026 (Provisional Data)
Click Image Below to Learn More
| |
The National Institute on Drug Abuse
Drug Overdose: Facts and Figures
| | Click image below to learn more information about the National Institute of Health's Drug Overdose Facts and Figures | |
CDC Reports
August 12, 2026
| Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts | |
Delays in reporting: The Monthly Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts report provides estimates for the United States and jurisdictions within 4 months after the date of death. Some states currently have longer than usual delays in reporting drug overdose deaths. Recent trends may underestimate the death count in affected states and this potential impact should be considered when comparing results for states to previous months. Adjustments to account for typical reporting delays in the predicted counts may not fully account for these longer delays. Please see the Technical Notes of the dashboard for more information on adjustments for delayed reporting.
| | |
WBEZ Chicago Reports
June 29, 2026
| Illinois sees dramatic drop in opioid overdose deaths | |
More than 40 years ago, Raymond Law wanted to stop using heroin but saw few options around Chicago as he sought treatment.
It wasn’t until he discovered a residential program through the Gateway Foundation that allowed him to stay for 18 months that he was able to overcome the heroin addiction. The program also helped him get a job, open a bank account and move into his own apartment. Now 43 years sober, Law has spent his career since helping others recover. He currently works for the organization that helped him navigate his path and is involved in a West Side community effort to curb the opioid crisis.
| |
The IDPH Statewide Semiannual
Overdose Report
| |
Click image below view the history of the Illinois Department of Public Health's Statewide Semiannual Opioid Reports
| The Illinois Department of Public Health | The Opioid Data Dashboard | Click Images Below to View Illinois' Interactive Opioid Data Dashboard | | The Chicago Department of Public Health Reports | Click image below to learn more | | |
The City of Chicago Reports
April 14, 2026
| | Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Department of Public Health Announce 50% Decline in Overdose Deaths Among Black Women, Marking the Start of Black Maternal Health Week in Chicago | | |
CHICAGO – Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) recognize Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW), celebrated April 11-17, and reaffirm their commitment to strengthening systems and improving birth outcomes for all Chicagoans.
In Chicago, Black women experienced three times the risk of pregnancy-related death compared with non-Black women from 2018 to 2022. The leading causes of pregnancy-related death among Black women in Chicago include diabetes, heart disease, other chronic conditions, and suicide, with substance use disorders (SUD) emerging as the leading cause of death.
| | |
The Chicago Defender Reports
June 8, 2026
| | Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago Department of Public Health launch safety plan to reduce violence, prevent overdoses | | |
As the city recognizes National Gun Violence Awareness Month, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is expanding its 2026 Summer Injury Prevention Initiative, a data-driven and community-centered effort to reduce gun violence, prevent opioid overdoses, and connect residents to lifesaving services. Building on strategies that contributed to significant declines in violence and overdose-related emergencies last summer, the initiative will run through September in neighborhoods most impacted by harm.
| |
|
The Cook County Department of Public Health Reports
June 24, 2026
| Cook County/Chicago Joint Opioid Report Shows Third-Year Decline in Opioid Overdose Deaths | SUBURBAN COOK COUNTY, IL – Chicago and suburban Cook County have experienced a third consecutive year of declines in opioid overdose deaths, according to a new report released by Cook County Department of Public Health, Chicago Department of Public Health and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. | Click Images Below to Learn More | |
Will County Reports
Janyary 27, 2026
| |
Behind Bars
The Deepening Opioid Crisis in Prisons and Jails
| The opioid crisis has deeply infiltrated America’s prisons and jails, where incarcerated individuals face heightened risks of addiction, withdrawal, and overdose. Limited access to treatment, inadequate medical care, and the stigma surrounding substance use disorders worsen outcomes behind bars. As a result, correctional facilities have become a critical front in the fight against the opioid epidemic, underscoring the urgent need for expanded access to evidence-based treatment and rehabilitation services within the justice system. | |
National Library of Medicine Reports
September 30, 2026
| U.S. Jails and fatal drug overdoses: patterns, predictors and the role of rehabilitative contexts | |
Opioid-related fatalities in U.S. correctional facilities present a critical criminal justice and health challenge. This study examines predictors of drug- and opioid-related deaths among incarcerated individuals nationwide. In the main models, younger age increases overdose risk, females face higher odds of drug-related death than males, and shorter stays are linked to all drug-related deaths, while longer stays are associated with opioid fatalities. Geographic disparities emerge, with small metro and micropolitan areas showing higher drug death rates and large fringe metros showing significantly lower opioid death rates. Medium-security facilities and greater spatial distance from public transportation access points predict higher rates for both outcomes. Subgroup analyses reveal that conviction status predicts elevated drug-related mortality only among males and among individuals held longer than 17 days. Notably, over one-third of opioid-related deaths and more than half of other drug deaths occur within 24 h of incarceration, underscoring acute early-stage vulnerability. Findings reveal distinct and overlapping predictors shaped by both rehabilitative and punitive factors, informing policies and interventions to reduce overdose fatalities in jails.
| |
The Prison Policy Initiative Reports
January 30, 2024
| Addicted to punishment: Jails and prisons punish drug use far more than they treat it | |
The prevalence of substance use disorders at every level of the criminal legal system points to an unavoidable fact: despite the deep unpopularity of the War on Drugs, our society still responds to substance use (and related crimes) as individual failures requiring punishment, rather than as a public health problem — and it’s not working.
Nationally, approximately 8% of people met the criteria for substance use disorders in 2019, but such disorders are far more common among people who are arrested (41%) and people incarcerated in federal (32%) or state prisons (49%). This means that approximately three million people with substance use disorders are locked up in any given year: at least two million people with substance use disorders are arrested annually and about half a million people in state and federal prisons meet the criteria for such disorders at the time of their admission
| |
The National Institute on Drug Abuse Reports
September 30, 2024
| Fewer than half of U.S. jails provide life-saving medications for opioid use disorder | A new look into addiction treatment availability in the U.S. criminal justice system reveals that fewer than half (43.8%) of 1,028 jails surveyed across the nation offered any form of medication for opioid use disorder, and only 12.8% made these available to anyone with the disorder. With two-thirds of people who are incarcerated in U.S. jails experiencing a substance use disorder – in many cases, an opioid use disorder – the failure to make these medications widely available in criminal justice settings represents a significant missed opportunity to provide life-saving treatments in an environment where people in need of care can be easily reached. | |
JAMA Network Reports
September 24, 2024
| Factors Associated With the Availability of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder in US Jails | With more than 80 000 fatal overdoses involving opioids in 2023,1 the US opioid crisis calls for the implementation of evidence-based public health interventions and policies.2,3 Correctional settings present key opportunities for such interventions. Opioid use is associated with criminal-legal system involvement.4 Nearly two-thirds of the US jail population is estimated to experience an active substance use disorder (SUD).5 A county-level study6 found that 21% of individuals who died of a fatal overdose had recently been in the county jail. Medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder (MOUD) is an evidence-based approach that involves treatment with 1 of 3 medications: buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone.7 These medications have demonstrated effectiveness, with associated reductions in opioid use and overdoses in the general population,8 as well as reduced overdose deaths and increased use of community-based treatment among recently detained populations.9,10 However, studies conducted in 2019 to 2020 found that less than a third of jails nationwide made MOUD available to all individuals with an opioid use disorder,11-13 with common barriers being cost, insurance, and other regulations.11,13 | Jail and Prison Opioid Project Reports | Tracking access to medications for opioid use disorder in U.S. jails and prisons | Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) — methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone — are the gold-standard treatment and the clinical standard of care, yet they remain out of reach for most people in U.S. jails and prisons. The Jail and Prison Opioid Project (JPOP) documents which facilities provide them. Explore our source-cited national dataset, find a specific facility in the dashboard, or use our implementation resources to start a program. | |
Substance Abuse and the Risk of HIV
Understanding the Public Health Crisis
| |
HIV.gov Reports
September 16, 2025
|
- Substance use refers to the use of drugs and alcohol and includes the misuse of prescription drugs or over-the-counter medicines.
- Substance use can lead to less safe behaviors (such as condomless sex or sharing needles) that increase the likelihood of getting HIV or passing it on to others.
- Substance use can harm the health of a person with HIV by weakening the immune system, damaging the liver, disrupting an HIV medicine schedule, and causing reactions with HIV medicines.
| |
HIV.gov Reports
January 30, 2024
| Can Using Drugs Increase Your Chances of Getting or Transmitting HIV? | |
Yes. Using drugs affects your brain, alters your judgment, and lowers your inhibitions. When you use drugs, you may be more likely to make decisions that increase your chance of getting or transmitting HIV. These include having anal or vaginal sex without HIV prevention tools, such as HIV prevention and treatment medications or condoms, having sex with multiple partners, or exchanging sex for drugs.
If you inject drugs, sharing and reusing needles, syringes, or other injection equipment ("works") like cookers can increase your chance of getting or transmitting HIV or hepatitis B and C. This is because the needles, syringes, or works may have blood in them, and blood can carry HIV. You should not share needles, syringes, or works for injecting silicone, hormones, or steroids for the same reason.
| |
Centers for Disease Control Reports
October 22, 2024
| HIV Infection and HIV-Associated Behaviors Among Persons Who Inject Drugs — 23 Metropolitan Statistical Areas, United States, 2018 | In the United States, 10% of HIV infections diagnosed in 2018 were attributed to unsafe injection drug use or male-to-male sexual contact among persons who inject drugs (PWID) (1). In 2017, among PWID or men who have sex with men and who inject drugs (MSM-ID), 76% of those who received a diagnosis of HIV infection lived in urban areas* (2). To monitor the prevalence of HIV infection and associated behaviors among persons who reported injecting drugs in the past 12 months, including MSM-ID, CDC’s National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) conducts interviews and HIV testing among populations of persons at high risk for HIV infection (MSM, PWID, and heterosexually active adults at increased risk for HIV infection) in selected metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) (3). | |
COVID-19 and Fentanyl
Fueling a Deadly Crisis in the Black and Brown Community
| The convergence of COVID-19 and the rise of fentanyl has created a deadly crisis disproportionately impacting Black and Brown communities. The pandemic’s isolation, economic hardships, and limited healthcare access compounded existing disparities, while the spread of fentanyl in the drug supply sharply increased overdose deaths. This dual public health emergency highlights the urgent need for equitable healthcare, targeted prevention, and culturally responsive support services to address the compounded challenges these communities face. | |
The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention Reports
July 19, 2022
| Overdose death rates increased significantly for Black, American Indian/Alaska Native people in 2020 | |
Among the key findings for drug overdose deaths:
- In 2020, the overdose death rate among Black males 65 years and older was nearly seven times that of White males 65 years and older.
- Black people 15–24 years old experienced the largest rate increase (86 percent) compared with changes seen in other age/race groups during 2019–2020.
- Overdose death rates for AI/AN women 25–44 years of age were nearly two times that of White women 25–44 years of age.
| |
Penn State Reports
April 30, 2024
| Fentanyl and COVID-19 pandemic reshaped racial profile of overdose deaths in US | |
The overdose death rates increased for both Black and white individuals of all ages during the 10-year study, with younger Black individuals still dying less often than white individuals of overdose. However, overdose death rates increased considerably for older Black individuals from 2012 to 2021. As a result, Black individuals now die of overdose at a higher rate than white individuals in the U.S.
During the pandemic, overdose death rates spiked dramatically across the nation and especially sharply among Black individuals compared to white individuals. In Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota — the states with the most pronounced racial differences — a Black person over the age of 55 was around five times more likely to die of a drug overdose than a white person of the same age.
| |
The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention Reports
July 21, 2022
| Vital Signs: Drug Overdose Deaths, by Selected Sociodemographic and Social Determinants of Health Characteristics — 25 States and the District of Columbia, 2019–2020 | |
From 2019 to 2020, drug overdose death rates increased by 44% and 39% among non-Hispanic Black (Black) and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons, respectively.
Significant disparities were found across sex, age, and racial and ethnic subgroups. In particular, the rate in 2020 among Black males aged ≥65 years (52.6 per 100,000) was nearly seven times that of non-Hispanic White males aged ≥65 years (7.7). A history of substance use was frequently reported. Evidence of previous substance use treatment was lowest for Black persons (8.3%). Disparities in overdose deaths, particularly among Black persons, were larger in counties with greater income inequality.
Opioid overdose rates in 2020 were higher in areas with more opioid treatment program availability compared with areas with lower opioid treatment availability, particularly among Black (34.3 versus 16.6) and AI/AN (33.4 versus 16.2) persons.
| |
The Journal of the American Medical Association Reports
September 20, 2022
| Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Drug Overdose Deaths in the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic | Among individuals aged 35 to 64 years from March 2018 to August 2021 (Figure; Table), age-adjusted overdose death rates per 100 000 increased overall for deaths involving any drug, fentanyl, and methamphetamine with or without fentanyl among most subgroups. During March to August 2021, overall drug overdose rates were highest among non-Hispanic Black or African American (hereafter Black) men (61.2; 95% CI, 59.4-62.9) and American Indian or Alaska Native men (60.0; 95% CI, 52.8-67.2), and fentanyl-involved death rates were highest among Black men (43.3; 95% CI, 41.8-44.8). Rates involving methamphetamine with fentanyl were highest among American Indian or Alaska Native men (12.6; 95% CI, 9.2-16.0) and women (9.4; 95% CI, 6.5-12.3) and White men (9.5; 95% CI, 9.1-9.8). Rates involving methamphetamine without fentanyl were highest among American Indian or Alaska Native men (22.9; 95% CI, 18.4-27.4). | |
Economic Struggles Drive Overdose Crisis
The Disproportionate Impact on Black Communities
| Economic hardship has played a major role in fueling the overdose crisis among Black communities, where systemic inequities such as unemployment, housing instability, and limited access to healthcare increase vulnerability to substance use and overdose. The correlation between financial strain and rising overdose deaths highlights how economic inequality continues to drive health disparities, underscoring the urgent need for targeted economic and public health interventions. | |
Pubmed Reports
January 28, 2020
|
Opioid-related overdose deaths by race and neighborhood economic hardship
in Chicago
| | Compared to national findings, Chicago has both a higher rate of opioid-related overdose death and a markedly different distribution by demographics. The Chicago Department of Public Health analyzed fatal overdoses by level of neighborhood economic hardship. The highest rate of opioid-related deaths occurred in neighborhoods with high economic hardship (36.9 per 100,000 population) compared to medium- (20.5) and low- (12.3) hardship neighborhoods. However, these patterns were not consistent across racial/Hispanic ethnicity subgroups. These data support the need to consider the role of racism and other structural, social, and economic factors when designing interventions to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths. | |
Mental Health Inequities
A Hidden Driver of the Overdose Crisis in Black Communities
| |
Mental health disparities play a significant role in the overdose crisis affecting Black communities, where limited access to culturally competent care, stigma, and systemic barriers prevent many from receiving proper support. Untreated mental health conditions often intersect with substance use, increasing the risk of overdose and worsening health outcomes. Addressing these disparities is critical to reducing overdose deaths and achieving equity in public health.
| |
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Reports
| |
Behavioral Health Concerns Amongst
Black Americans
| |
Twenty-one percent of Black and African Americans reported having a mental illness, compared to 23.9% of non-Hispanic Whites. However, just 39% of Black and African Americans received mental health services compared to non-Hispanic Whites (52%)
Black Americans have similar rates of substance use disorder (17%) as non-Hispanic Whites, but higher rates of illicit drug use (24.3 vs 22.5 respectively) and unmet treatment needs (16.4% vs 15.7%, respectively)
| |
Overlooked Victims
The Opioid Crisis’ Toll on Black and
Hispanic Communities
| | Black and Hispanic communities have often been overlooked in the national conversation about the opioid crisis, despite experiencing rising rates of addiction and overdose deaths. Structural racism, economic inequality, and barriers to treatment have left these populations particularly vulnerable, while resources and media attention have largely focused elsewhere. Recognizing and addressing this disparity is essential to ensuring an equitable response to the opioid epidemic. | | |
Sage Journals Reports
August 31, 2020
| Exploring the impact of the opioid epidemic in Black and Hispanic communities in the United States | | While Opioid-related overdoses have overwhelmingly plagued rural and suburban White, Non-Hispanic communities, there has been a surge in the number of deaths in Black and Hispanic Minority communities in recent years. Although there have been significant increases in the number of opioid-related overdose deaths in Black and Hispanic communities, the media narrative for this epidemic is often portrayed as a White, Non-Hispanic rural and suburban crisis. As a result, intervention strategies and policies have failed, both, to assess the severity of the problem in minority communities and to offer culturally sensitive preventative and treatment solutions. In this paper, the impact of the opioid epidemic on Black and Hispanic minority communities will be presented. | | |
US News Reports
August 31, 2020
| | Separate, Unequal and Overlooked | |
For the past several years, American attention has been fixated on fighting opioid overdoses in largely white towns, where reports of climbing fatality rates have struck like a thunderbolt, revealing communities in economic and social distress. Opioid abuse there, the narrative goes, stems from economic instability and an explosion in prescriptions for pills like OxyContin – a powerful analgesic that morphed from pain reliever to addictive street drug, a gateway to hardcore heroin use.
Yet population health analysts, academics and on-the-ground specialists say heroin and its related plagues of crime and death have stalked African-American neighborhoods for decades, garnering little to no attention. And when the government has bothered to address it in cities like Chicago, critics say, it's usually through police crackdowns on users and dealers rather than increased access to intervention, drug treatment or badly needed economic aid.
| | |
Prison Walls, Hidden Crisis
How Mass Incarceration Fuels
Overdose Deaths
| | |
Mass incarceration has intensified the overdose crisis, as individuals in prisons and jails face limited access to addiction treatment, mental health care, and harm reduction services. Upon release, many encounter high-risk environments and inadequate support, increasing the likelihood of overdose. This connection highlights the urgent need for comprehensive interventions within the criminal justice system to reduce preventable deaths and support
long-term recovery.
| Vera Institute of Justice Reports | |
National trends and racial disparities |
Jail incarceration and overdose deaths are deeply entwined and both have roots in America’s longstanding war on drugs and use of the criminal legal system to target Black people and other communities of color. Despite similar levels of drug use compared to white people, Black people and other people of color have been disproportionately criminalized for drug-related offenses; decades of punitive, enforcement-focused policies have had devastating impacts on these communities.[1]
Today, of the almost 2.3 million people incarcerated in America’s federal and state prisons, local jails, juvenile correctional facilities, and immigration detention facilities, one in five people are locked up for drug offenses.[2] Data from 2007 to 2009’s National Inmate Surveys estimated that 58 percent of people incarcerated in state prisons and 63 percent of people serving sentences in jails met the criteria for a substance use disorder.
| |
Barriers to Care
Obstacles Blocking Access to
Overdose Treatment
| Many individuals at risk of overdose face significant barriers to treatment, including limited access to healthcare, high costs, stigma, and lack of culturally competent services. These obstacles prevent timely intervention and increase the likelihood of fatal outcomes. Addressing these barriers through expanded access, education, and equitable healthcare policies is critical to reducing overdose deaths and supporting recovery. | | |
The Scientific American Reports
December 1, 2022
| | The Opioid Epidemic Is Surging among Black People because of Unequal Access to Treatment | | In one way or another, Thomas Gooch has spent more than 30 years struggling with illegal drugs. The 52-year-old Nashville, Tenn., native grew up in extreme poverty. He was first incarcerated in 1988 and spent the next 15 years in and out of jail for using and selling narcotics. “Until 2003,” Gooch says. “That was the first time I went to treatment and the last time I used.” Since then, for most of 19 years, Gooch has been trying to get others into recovery or just k eep them alive. He handed out clean needles and injection-drug equipment—which reduce injuries, infections and overdose deaths—in Nashville’s hardest-hit communities. In 2014 he founded My Father’s House, a transitional recovery facility for fathers struggling with substance use disorder. | |
|
Substance Use and HIV
The Overdose Crisis’ Hidden Health Threat
| The overdose crisis is closely linked to an increased risk of HIV/AIDS, particularly in communities affected by substance use and limited access to healthcare. Practices such as sharing needles and unsafe injection behaviors heighten the likelihood of HIV transmission, while gaps in prevention and treatment services exacerbate the problem. Addressing both crises simultaneously through harm reduction, education, and equitable healthcare access is essential to protecting vulnerable populations. | |
|
HIV. gov Reports
December 18, 2023
| | What Is the Impact of HIV on Racial and Ethnic Minorities in the U.S.? | | Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino communities are disproportionately affected by HIV compared to other racial/ethnic groups. For example, according to CDC, in 2021, Black/African American individuals aged 13 and older represented approximately 12% of the U.S. population, but accounted for 40% of people with HIV. Hispanic/Latino persons aged 13 and older represented 18% of the population but accounted for 25% of people with HIV. | |
National Library of Science Reports
April 19, 2012
| HIV infection and risk of overdose: a systematic review and meta-analysis | Drug overdose is a common cause of non-AIDS death among people with HIV and the leading cause of death for people who inject drugs [1–6]. People with HIV are often exposed to opioid medications during their HIV care experience; others may continue to use illicit opioids despite their disease status. Either scenario may present a heightened risk for fatal and nonfatal opioid overdose. | |
Overdose Prevention Centers
Tackling the Overdose Crisis and
Saving Lives
| |
JAMA Reports
July 15, 2023
| Overdose Prevention Centers: An Essential Strategy or Addressing the Overdose Crisis | Research has found that OPCs are associated with benefits for individuals who use the centers and neighborhoods where the centers are located.4,5 OPCs have been found to be associated with reduced overdose deaths, substance use–related harms, and all-cause mortality among people who use drugs and to be cost-effective.4,5 OPCs have also been found to be associated with increased treatment engagement, with regular center use, but not with increased drug trafficking, initiation of substance use among people who did not previously use drugs, or resumed use among people in recovery. An evaluation of an unsanctioned US OPC that operated from 2014 to 2021 found high rates of center use without any overdose deaths.6 For surrounding neighborhoods, OPCs have been shown to be associated with reduced public drug consumption, litter of drug consumption equipment, and crime.4,5 | | |
Rep. Ford’s Bold Leadership
A Forceful Advocate for Opioid Prevention Sites
| |
|
Block Club Chicago Reports
February 15, 2023
|
State Lawmakers Poised To Legalize Drug-Injection Site This Year — But Will City Leaders Follow Through?
| |
Sen. Sara Feigenholtz and Rep. La Shawn Ford are pushing forward partner bills that would legalize a pilot site in a Chicago neighborhood hit hard by the opioid crisis.
The site’s staff would be trained to recognize overdoses and use drug-reversing medication like Narcan. People would be able to bring and use illegal drugs — without punishment — and get access to testing strips and clean syringes.
A local nonprofit would operate the site and hire community members and people in recovery. The staff would be encouraged to build relationships with clients and offer HIV and Hepatitis C testing, housing, medical services, employment opportunities, drug treatment programs and other social services that can put people on a path for recovery.
Ford said the site “will simply save lives.”
| |
Click Image Below to Read
Rep. Ford's Bill on Opioid Prevention Sites, HB2921.
| |
Chicago Sun-Times Reports
July 23, 2023
| Groups call for safe-use site as opioid overdose deaths climb | |
They once were used to distribute news. Now, they’re saving lives.
On Chicago’s West Side, 20 of those plastic boxes — the kind where people might have picked up a free copy of a local weekly are now stocked with anti-overdose medicine.
It’s the latest effort to tackle overdose deaths in the area.
| |
Austin Weekly News Reports
July 31, 2023
| State ep. pushes overdose prevention sites for Chicago | |
A dozen medical experts, outreach workers and advocates joined State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (8th) in his push to open a pilot overdose prevention site in Chicago.
Standing at the corner of W. Van Buren Street and S. Pulaski Road, one of many West Side areas with high overdose rates, Ford called for the public and lawmakers to support a bill that would allow the creation of overdose prevention sites in Chicago.
“Overdose prevention sites are evidence-based healthcare where people can use pre-obtained drugs,” Ford said. “If an individual overdoses, someone will save their life and connect them to a number of local resources.”
| |
Voices from the Frontline
Stories of Survival, Loss, and Recovery in the Overdose Crisis
| |
“Voices from the Frontline” highlights the personal stories of those directly affected by the overdose crisis, sharing experiences of survival, loss, and recovery. These narratives reveal the human impact behind the statistics, illustrating the challenges of addiction, the pain of losing loved ones, and the resilience required to rebuild lives. By amplifying these voices, the collection underscores the urgent need for compassionate, community-based approaches
to address the crisis.
| Key Takeaways for Overdose Awareness Day | |
Support Overdose Prevention Sites: Advocate for and implement supervised drug use sites in high-impact areas like Chicago's West Side to reduce overdose deaths, decrease public drug use, and lower healthcare costs. Encourage local and state leaders to support Rep. Ford's House Bill 0002 and similar initiatives.
Expand Access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT): Ensure equitable access to FDA-approved MAT options, such as buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone, particularly in underserved communities.
Diminish Barriers to Essential Medications: Remove obstacles at treatment facilities to improve privacy and access to necessary medications for those struggling with substance use disorders.
Integrate Holistic Treatment Therapies: Combine conventional methods with mental health services, acupuncture, and naturopathic medicine to provide comprehensive care.
Distribute Naloxone and Fentanyl Test Strips: Provide life-saving tools like naloxone and fentanyl test strips to high-risk populations to prevent accidental overdoses.
Increase Health Literacy and Reduce Stigma: Educate communities about substance use disorders and promote privacy and discretion in accessing treatment services.
Reform the Criminal Justice System: Address racial disparities in drug arrests and improve access to drug treatment options within the justice system.
Challenge Misconceptions and Advocate for Systemic Change: Reframe substance use disorder as a health condition and advocate for a healthcare system that addresses the root causes of health disparities.
Support Health Equity Initiatives: Advocate for policies that address health disparities and promote equitable access to treatment and resources for all communities.
Enhance Community-Based Support Systems: Strengthen local networks and partnerships to provide ongoing support and resources for individuals in recovery and their families.
| Click Image Below to Learn More About About the Signs of an Overdose | Learn How to Administer Naloxone | Resources for Overdose Prevention | |
SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Call 1-800-662- HELP (4357)
|
Learn how to Show Your Support for
International Overdose
Awareness Day
| Purple is the official color of addiction recovery. You can get badges or ribbons from your local organizations. You can also choose to wear purple clothes for the day to show your support for the community. | | Gather your family and friends and others to talk about the aims behind the day. You can host a small talk session or you can select documentaries to watch. The goal is to reach as many people as possible | | In today’s day and age, it is a piece of cake to spread information. Seek the help of a professional to research. Once you have compiled everything, you can proceed to distribute information about the topic to your network using social media. | | Rep Ford's Daily Job Leads | Click below to view today's job highlights | | |
Marketplace Data & Reporting Senior Analyst
Job Requisition ID: 58025
Opening Date: 08/27/2026
Closing Date: 09/11/2026
Agency: Department of Insurance
Class Title: EXECUTIVE II - 13852
Skill Option: None
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: $6,820-9,875 (Anticipated starting salary
$6,820/CBA Language applies)
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
County: Cook
Number of Vacancies: 1
Click Here to Apply
Assistant Labor Relations Administrastor
Job Requisition ID: 58087
Opening Date: 08/28/2026
Closing Date: 09/11/2026
Agency:Department of Juvenile Justice
Class Title: PUBLIC SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR - 37015
Skill Option: General Administration/Business
Marketing/Labor/Personnel
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary $8,571 - $10,571 monthly
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
Click Here to Apply
End User Computer Coordinator
Job Requisition ID: 57637
Opening Date: 08/28/2026
Closing Date: 09/14/2026
Agency: Department of Innovation and Technology
Class Title: INFORMATION SYSTEMS ANALYST I - 21165
Skill Option: Client Services - Information Technology
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary: $7,195/month;
Full Range: $7,195-$10,485 monthly
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
County: Cook
Number of Vacancies: 1
Click Here to Apply
Social Worker II
Job Requisition ID: 58208
Opening Date: 08/21/2026
Closing Date: 09/03/2026
Agency: Department of Human Services
Class Title: SOCIAL WORKER II (41412)
Skill Option: UMP Credential
Bilingual Option: Manual Communication (Sign)
Salary: Anticipated Salary: $6,460 - $9,337 per month
($77,520 - $112,044 per year) + bilingual pay
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
County: Cook
Number of Vacancies: 1
Click Here to Apply
| | | | |
