Overview
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) was established in 2001 by Sally J. Finn and Peter Streker, who were working at The Salvation Army’s needle exchange program in St. Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. The first event, set for August 31st, was held at the needle exchange facility as a community barbecue. Ultimately, 6000 silver ribbons were distributed across Australia and New Zealand in honor of those who had passed from overdoses.
In 2012, the nonprofit Penington Institute began officially managing the campaign in order to handle the scale of a global movement. In 2014, the Penington Institute expanded IOAD’s mission to focus on distributing overdose prevention tools like Naloxone (Narcan) rather than just a day of remembrance.
As of 2026, IOAD boasts more than 1000 localized events across 40+ countries.
Organizers and Advocates
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Sally J. Finn, founder of the IOAD campaign
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John Ryan, CEO of the Penington Institute
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Nora Volkow, Director of NIDA
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George Koob, Director of NIAAA
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Rahul Gupta, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)