Denver Overdose Awareness Day, Tips from the City

Photo byTimothy Hurst | Denver Gazette

International Overdose Awareness Day, acknowledged on August 31st, strikes a chord for many that have experienced the hardships of addiction. Just last year, over 560 Denver residents died from drug overdoses, according to data from the city.

Photo byX @City of Denver

In honor of bringing awareness, the Denver City and County building was lit purple for the day. In addition, they shared resources on X for how to prevent overdose deaths.

Denver Public Health offers free Fentanyl testing strips along with free Naloxone, which when administered can reverse an overdose. You can request the supplies online using this form. Note that they're currently being shipped two weeks after submission.

Here's how you can identify an overdose, from Denver's Public Health website:

• Opioid overdoses happen when a person takes too many opioids or a combination of opioids and other drugs that lead to respiratory depression, or slowed breathing
• If a person is not breathing enough, oxygen levels in the blood decrease. The lack of oxygen eventually inhibits the function of other vital organs including the heart and the brain. This can lead to unconsciousness, coma, and ultimately death
• This process is rarely instantaneous; respiratory depression can last over the course of minutes to several hours after the drug was used until a person stops breathing completely. This means there is usually time to intervene between when an overdose starts and the person’s death
• The window to respond to an overdose may be shorter with other synthetic opioids. It is also important to note that certain medical conditions can impact someone’s respiratory function

Carrying Naloxone can help save a life for someone who's overdosing. You never know who around you may suffer from one, that's why this emergency supply is so critical as a "just in case" measure.

If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction and ready to get help, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP(4357).