International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), observed every year on August 31, embodies this spirit of collective action. Since its beginnings in 2001 as a modest barbecue gathering of people impacted by overdose at The Salvation Army needle-exchange in Melbourne, Australia, initiated by social worker S.J. Finn, the observance has grown into a global movement.
By Haobam Nanao
In retrospect, Manipur has come a long way in its journey toward drug overdose management. This progress has not only been driven by institutions but also by the resilience of the drug user community itself, which has taken a leading role in saving lives when people hang precariously on the razor thin edge between life and death. Their actions continue to remind us of a fundamental truth: overdose is preventable when we act. Overdose can and must be prevented, and solutions already exist. What remains is our collective responsibility to use them effectively.
For too long, societies across the world and especially here in Manipur have relied on criminalizing drug use as a response. Yet criminalization has never solved the problem; it has only deepened stigma and discrimination. The way forward lies in compassion, in alternatives that prioritize health over punishment. Strong and humane policies must be in place to protect individuals and communities, ensuring that basic human rights and essential healthcare needs are met. Everyone deserves the dignity of respectful, comprehensive care, and only through a united, community-wide effort can the tragedy of overdose truly be brought to an end.
International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD), observed every year on August 31, embodies this spirit of collective action. Since its beginnings in 2001 as a modest barbecue gathering of people impacted by overdose at The Salvation Army needle-exchange in Melbourne, Australia, initiated by social worker S.J. Finn, the observance has grown into a global movement. Today, IOAD serves as a time to remember those who have lost their lives to overdose, to stand with grieving families, and to acknowledge their pain without stigma or shame. It also raises awareness of the overdose crisis, challenging the world to recognize that addiction is a health issue rather than a moral failing. By spreading knowledge about the risks of overdose and the use of life-saving responses like Naloxone and other antagonist drugs, IOAD helps communities prepare to save lives. Just as importantly, it calls on governments and organizations to act responsibly, to strengthen harm reduction and treatment services, and to respond with compassion rather than judgment.
In Manipur, where drug use has hit hard for more than five decades now this message carries particular weight. The state continues to struggle with challenges such as moral policing, vigilante acts, and the public shaming of drug users, making them especially vulnerable when it comes to overdose management. The situation is worsened when life-saving medicines like Naloxone are sold at exorbitant prices, turning human survival into an opportunity for profit. Such practices undermine the very essence of public health. It is imperative that the health sector and concerned authorities make Naloxone and other antagonist drugs widely accessible and affordable so that no life is lost simply because help was out of reach.
Despite these barriers, the drug user community in Manipur has remained steadfast in its advocacy and response, ensuring that overdose management continues to move forward. Their courage and commitment have already saved countless lives, though many more could have been spared had such efforts been embraced earlier.
This year, as the world observes International Overdose Awareness Day under the theme “One Big Family, Driven by Hope,” let us commit ourselves to building a future in Manipur where compassion outweighs stigma, where human rights are upheld, and where public health is prioritized. By standing together as one family, we can ensure that overdose management becomes not just a response to crisis but a shared experiences, responsibility and commitment to each other in shaping a healthier, more humane society.
(Haobam Nanao is a Drug User Activist based in Manipur)