Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson issued a proclamation recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2019, to call additional attention to drug overdoses -- especially involving opioids -- and reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths.

Opioids are a class of highly addictive drugs used to reduce pain and include prescription opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone, as well as illegal opioids like heroin. Overdoses can occur in people who have an addiction to substances as well as those who do not, such as someone accidentally overdosing on prescription opioids after a surgery or an injury, a teenager experimenting with illegal drugs for the first time or a child ingesting opioid pills or powders from a home medicine cabinet or other storage location.

As in many communities throughout the country, the national opioid epidemic poses a significant threat to public health and safety in Alexandria. 

In the proclamation, the Mayor touches on how City staff and community partners are working to address the crisis through various efforts including the Opioid Work Group, substance use disorder treatment resources and programs, and the Treatment Court, a best-practice approach combining substance use treatment with judicial oversight and monitoring to help participants achieve and maintain recovery and live law-abiding lives.

Read the proclamation below.