31 August is International Overdose Awareness Day. Being unable to gather in person, we asked listeners for their personal remembrances of loved ones lost to overdose.

The resulting tributes are equal parts sad and joyful. They also make an implicit case against stigma and for decisive action on this urgent and tragic issue.

We thank everyone who contributed and offer best wishes and solidarity to anyone marking this occasion.

Be sure also to check out Part 2, an interview with researchers from Latrobe Uni about take-home Naloxone, a key tool in the prevention of opiod overdoses, and heavy drinking, an often-overlooked contributor to deaths by overdose.

The show is brought to you by the Association of Participating Service Users (APSU), which is a service of the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC). APSU is a Victorian consumer body that believes the voices of people with lived experience of AOD issues should be heard and incorporated into service design and delivery. 

The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily the views of APSU or SHARC. Names and identifying details may have been changed for privacy reasons.

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And there’ll be more from us. Thanks so much for listening.