What International Overdose Awareness Day Means for Lancaster County

Every year on August 31, communities around the world observe International Overdose Awareness Day, the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose and remember those who have been lost. This year marks 25 years of that observance, and the theme says it plainly: "25 Years On. Still Needed."

That's not a concession. Overdose is still happening in Lancaster County and everywhere else, and the people working to stop it haven't stopped either. The best thing any of us can do right now is stay informed, stay prepared, and refuse to let shame get in the way of helping each other.

Overdose Is a Medical Emergency, Not a Moral Failing

The stigma around overdose is one of the most dangerous forces in this conversation. When people are afraid of being judged, or afraid of getting in trouble, they hesitate to call for help. That hesitation costs lives. An opioid overdose can become fatal in minutes, and the window for intervention is narrow.

Overdose can happen to people across all walks of life, including people who have been in recovery, people using prescription medications, and people who had no idea what was in what they took. The rise of fentanyl in the drug supply has made this more unpredictable than ever. Fentanyl is odorless and colorless, and it takes only a trace amount to cause a fatal overdose. Knowing what you're dealing with is the first step toward being able to help.

Know What an Overdose Looks Like

If you're ever in a situation where you think someone might be overdosing, time matters. Signs of an opioid overdose include very slow, shallow, or stopped breathing; unresponsiveness or inability to wake up; and blue or grayish coloring around the lips or fingertips. If you see those signs, call 911 immediately. Don't wait to see if the person "comes around." Don't wait until you're sure. Call.

South Carolina Has a Good Samaritan Law

Some people hesitate to call 911 during an overdose because they're afraid of legal consequences for themselves or for the person who is overdosing. South Carolina's Good Samaritan law provides some legal protections for people who call for help in good faith during an overdose emergency. It is not a blanket immunity, and it doesn't cover every situation, but it does exist and it was designed to encourage people to make that call. If you have specific legal questions, consulting an attorney is the right move, but the bottom line is this: calling 911 gives someone a chance to survive. Not calling takes that chance away.

Narcan Is Available at CSL, Free and Anonymous

Narcan (naloxone) is a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose and it works fast. If administered quickly during an overdose, it can restore normal breathing and buy critical time until emergency services arrive. It is safe, it does not cause any harm if given to someone who is not overdosing, and it is legal to carry in South Carolina without a prescription.

Counseling Services of Lancaster distributes Narcan at no cost, completely anonymously, and with no questions asked. You don't need an appointment. You don't need to be in treatment at CSL. You don't need to explain why you want it. You can walk in, pick it up, and walk out. If you are unsure how to use it, CSL can show you. It takes about two minutes to learn.

Having Narcan on hand doesn't mean you're expecting the worst. It means you're prepared to help if the worst happens. More and more people are keeping it in their homes the same way they keep a first aid kit, and that is exactly the right instinct.

Remembering Those We've Lost

International Overdose Awareness Day also holds space for grief. If you have lost someone to overdose, you are not alone, and their life was worth more than the circumstances of their death. Overdose is not a character flaw. The people we've lost were whole people with people who loved them, and this day is as much for them as it is for prevention.

If you need support around a loss, or if you are someone who is struggling with substance use, CSL is here. Services are available regardless of your ability to pay, in more than 200 languages, with no judgment and no financial barrier to getting started.

Visit counselingserviceslancaster.org, call (803) 285-6911, or email csl@cslancaster.org.