August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day
Free, public events to include naloxone training
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 28, 2024
LAS VEGAS –The Southern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance (SNHRA) is hosting its 8th Annual International Overdose Awareness Day event on Saturday, August 31, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada, 401 S. Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas, NV 89101. The event is an opportunity to remember those who have died, while acknowledging those who have survived.
Open to the public, the event will include a resource fair, and overdose prevention trainings, including how to use naloxone and fentanyl test strips. A vigil is also planned for those who have died from overdose and to celebrate those who have survived.
In 2023, there were 692 drug overdose deaths reported among Clark County residents, with opioids (both prescription and illicit) accounting for 68.1% of the deaths. Drug overdose deaths in the county increased 23.6% from 2020 to 2023, and opioid-related deaths rose by 23.9% during the same period. The highest opioid death rate in the county was in the 89101 ZIP code, with 69.91 deaths per 100,000 residents.
Fentanyl remains a significant public health concern in Southern Nevada, driving the increase in opioid-related deaths. From 2020 to 2023, fentanyl-related deaths in Clark County increased 92.7%.
For more information on International Overdose Awareness Day, visit https://bit.ly/IOAD2024NV.
The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.