Metro Denver observes Overdose Awareness Day amid reports of drug-induced deaths

By Deborah Grigsby August 28, 2024 | updated 2 years ago

FILE PHOTO (FILE PHOTO)

For more than 20 years, Aug. 31 has marked International Overdose Awareness Day, the world’s largest annual campaign to raise awareness about overdoses, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths and acknowledge the grief of families and friends left behind.

Local organizations have organized events to observe the solemn reminder of the ongoing struggle with addiction, even as reports indicate that Colorado has lost ground compared to national trends.

In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics reported 107,543 deaths from overdose nationwide, down 3% from 2022, marking the first annual decrease in drug overdose deaths since 2018.

Colorado, meanwhile, had a 3.9% spike in the “predicted” data of overdose deaths, ranking it No. 10 among the states with the highest rate of increase. This “predictive” method takes into account and adjusts for incomplete, provisional drug overdose data, which often undercounts the final numbers.

CDC data put the predicted cases through December 2023 in Colorado at 1,928. That number was 1,856 through the same period in 2022.

In Denver, data from the City and County Medical Examiner showed that the number of drug-related overdose deaths in 2023 among the highest ever recorded at 522, with 342 of those deaths related to fentanyl, a 28% jump from 2022.

Denver recently received the first installment of roughly $9 million in grant funding from CDC to obtain more data and help in the campaign to reduce overdoses throughout the city, officials said.

The annual grant — the funding will last five years — comes out to $1.8 million. Officials said the money will help the city collect more data on overdoses, less so for actual substance treatment or similar programs.

“As we approach International Overdose Awareness Day, we see hope in the many community partnerships we have to help fight for people’s health and wellbeing. We see hope in the programs offered by the city to change the trajectory of overdose in Denver,” said Karin McGowan, executive director of the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment. “With this grant, we add another tool to the toolbox to build on existing programs and try new and innovative ideas that will lead to better health outcomes.”

Here were some of the community events promoting overdose awareness in metro Denver:

Denver Harm Reduction Action Center

Friday, Aug. 30, 1:30 – 4 p.m.

112 E. 8th St.

Denver, CO 80203

Memorial Event — Broomfield

Friday, Aug. 30, 9 – 11 a.m.

Broomfield Library

3 Community Park Rd.

Broomfield, CO 80020

Overdose Awareness Day Remembrance — Denver

Friday, Aug. 30, 11 – 11:30 a.m.