Community to honor lives lost and promote prevention on International Overdose Awareness Day
Free public event includes naloxone training, resources and remembrance vigil
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 28, 2025
LAS VEGAS – The Southern Nevada Health Consortium will host the 9th Annual International Overdose Awareness Day event on Saturday, August 30, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Foundation for Recovery, located at 4800 S. Alpine Place, Las Vegas, NV 89108. The event honors those who have died or suffered permanent injury from overdose, reduces stigma surrounding drug-related deaths, and raises awareness about overdose prevention and drug policy.
Open to the public, the event will feature local vendors, overdose prevention training, naloxone distribution, food, and live entertainment. A vigil will be held to remember lives lost and celebrate those who have survived an overdose. A speaker panel will also share personal stories, including perspectives from a family member, a first responder, and a survivor.
A “Soles for Souls” exhibit will display shoes representing individuals who died from overdose in the past year. Attendees are encouraged to donate shoes, which will be given to local charities.
Sponsors for this year’s event are the Southern Nevada Health Consortium, Southern Nevada Health District, Comprehensive Treatment Centers, Southern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance, the Foundation for Recovery and the PACT Coalition.
“International Overdose Awareness Day is an important opportunity for our community to come together—to honor those we’ve lost and to reaffirm our commitment to preventing future tragedies,” said Dr. Cassius Lockett, District Health Officer for the Southern Nevada Health District. “Addressing overdose is a shared responsibility, and this event reflects the strength of our collective dedication to building a healthier Southern Nevada.”
Overdose statistics in Clark County
In 2024, Clark County reported 802 confirmed drug overdose deaths, representing a nearly 16% increase compared to 2023. Opioids, both prescription and illicit, were involved in 67.5% of these fatalities. Since 2018, the opioid-involved overdose mortality rate has increased by 115%, reaching 22.3 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2024. The highest burden was concentrated in ZIP code 89101 with a mortality rate of 120 deaths per 100,000 residents. Fentanyl remains the primary driver of the local opioid epidemic, with fentanyl-related deaths increasing 92.7% between 2020 and 2023.
Surveillance data indicate that the fatal overdoses peaked during the summer months (June-August), and were lowest in November. Demographic distribution shows that men accounted for 70.2% of overdose deaths, and the largest proportion of cases occurred among non-Hispanic white individuals.
For more information on substance use in Southern Nevada, visit the Health District’s Substance Use Dashboard.
The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.