Tompkins County Health Highlighting International Drug Overdose Awareness Week

Tompkins County Whole Health (TCWH) is reminding the community that the end of August is also the beginning of International Drug Overdose Awareness Week.

Over the past 5 years, 100 people have died in Tompkins County due to drug overdoses. This week is a time to raise awareness of overdoses and strengthen the efforts in preventing deaths caused by substance abuse. The week of August 28th to September 3rd is commemorated as International Drug Awareness Week; August 31st is also International Overdose Awareness Day, which is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdoses.

“It is essential to remember that every one of those 100 residents was someone’s family member, someone’s friend, someone’s coworker or someone’s neighbor,” said TCWH Commissioner Frank Kruppa. “On this significant week, we extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of these individuals, and double down on our commitment to preventing overdose deaths in the future.”

The TCWH website has also updated their website to include data regarding Narcan training and usage. Narcan administered by EMS, police, and Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs (OOPP) is shown, as well as local OOOP sites where Narcan is distributed to the public. Both training and distribution increased in 2023. 
For more information, visit https://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/health.