Drug-Free Tennessee Holds International Overdose Awareness Day Event


Posted September 2, 2021 by juliebrinker

Drug-Free Tennessee has a mission to educate people on the dangers of drug abuse.

 
Recently released data by the CDC show that drug overdose deaths
reached a record high of 93,331 in 2020. That’s more than 20,000 deaths above
the previous high in 2019 and the largest single-year percentage increase on
record since 1999.  Drug-Free Tennessee (DFT) has long warned youth and adults alike
on the dangers of drug abuse, and recently an event was held for International
Overdose Awareness Day with special guest speaker Michael Deleon, founder of
Steered Straight.   International Overdose Awareness Day was initiated in 2001 by
Sally J Finn at The Salvation Army in St Kilda, Melbourne. Since 2001, many
community members as well as government and non-government organizations have
held events to raise awareness and commemorate those who have been lost to drug
overdose. According to OverdoseDay.org, “International Overdose Awareness Day
is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma
those who have died and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left
behind.”  Drug-Free Tennessee is the local chapter of the Foundation for a
Drug-Free World, an international non-profit working to help educate people on
the dangers of drugs through a multimedia campaign.  During the event, Deleon told his story and walked the audience
through drug statistics and how COVID has affected the overdose rates. He spoke
on the efficacy of the Truth About Drugs program and materials, and thanked
those who had contributed to it. He emphasized the one true answer to the drug
problem is education.   



















Resources are available free of charge through drugfreeworld.org,
including downloadable Truth
About Drugs booklet, which cover all basic side effects of drugs, common street
names, and how to recognize when you are being persuaded by a dealer. DFT also
has a range of award winning Public Service Announcements and an award winning
feature length documentary detailing the dangers of drugs and addiction. To
learn more or to order booklets or view the videos, visit drugfreetn.org and
drugfreeworld.org.
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Issued By Arlo Dixon
Country United States
Categories Event , Non-profit
Last Updated September 2, 2021