Overdose Awareness Toolkit 2026
- 13 minutes ago
- 11 min read
OVERDOSE AWARENESS TOOLKIT
2026
25 YEARS ON. STILL NEEDED.
Remember. Respond. Reach Out.
A public toolkit from Serenity House Counseling Services
Copy, personalize, and share the messages in this toolkit throughout August to help your community remember, respond, and reach out.
Help Us Spread the Word
Overdose Awareness Month is an opportunity for every part of our community to help reduce stigma, share life-saving information, and show support for people and families affected by overdose.
Serenity House created this toolkit for community members, alumni, families, businesses, faith communities, partner organizations, and anyone who wants to help. Use one template or use them all. You may personalize the wording so it sounds like you, while keeping the message respectful and accurate.
THE 2026 THEME
25 Years On. Still Needed. For 25 years, International Overdose Awareness Day has brought people together to remember those lost to overdose and take action to save lives. We should not still need this day. But we do.
A simple campaign framework:
REMEMBER Honor people lost to overdose and hold space for those who grieve. | RESPOND Learn the signs of overdose, carry naloxone, and know what to do. | REACH OUT Replace judgment with compassion and connect people with care. |
How to use the toolkit:
[ ] Choose a message that feels meaningful to you and copy it into an email or social media post.
[ ] Add a brief personal sentence about why overdose awareness, recovery, or Serenity House matters to you.
[ ] Use the downloadable 2026 graphics and videos provided with the blog post.
[ ] Tag Serenity House and use the official campaign hashtags: #IOAD2026 #OverdoseAware #EndOverdose #StillNeeded.
[ ] Share Serenity House event information from serenityhouse.com, so your post always directs people to the latest details.
Five Ways to Take Action
SHARE Post one of the messages below or forward the email template to friends, relatives, and coworkers. |
LEARN Know the signs of a possible opioid overdose and the steps to take while emergency help is on the way. |
CARRY Keep naloxone nearby and encourage others to learn how to use it. |
SUPPORT Use compassionate, person-first language and help connect people with treatment and recovery resources. |
GIVE Donate to Serenity House to support treatment, recovery, and community-based services. |
Email Templates
Personal emails are one of the most effective ways to invite people into the conversation. Add a sentence about why this matters to you before sending.
Email 1: Raise Awareness
Subject line ideas: 25 Years On. Still Needed. | Join Me This Overdose Awareness Month | Help Me Share a Life-Saving Message
COPY AND PERSONALIZE Dear [Name], August is Overdose Awareness Month, and August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. The 2026 theme is 25 Years On. Still Needed. For 25 years, communities have come together to remember people lost to overdose and take action to save lives. We should not still need this day, but overdose continues to affect families, friends, and communities everywhere. I am supporting Serenity House this August by helping share accurate information, reduce stigma, and remind people that treatment and recovery support are available. Here are a few ways you can take part:- Learn the signs of an overdose and what to do. - Carry naloxone and encourage others to do the same. - Share compassionate, person-first messages. - Join Serenity House for its 2026 Overdose Awareness Day event. Visit serenityhouse.com for the latest details. - Support treatment and recovery by donating at serenityhouse.com/donations. Please consider sharing this message with someone in your own circle. One conversation can help someone feel less alone, find support or be prepared to save a life. Thank you, [Your Name] |
Email 2: Invite Support for Serenity House
Subject line ideas: Turn Awareness into Action | Support Serenity House This August | Help Make Care Easier to Reach
COPY AND PERSONALIZE Dear [Name], This Overdose Awareness Month, I am raising support for Serenity House Counseling Services, a nonprofit, community-based treatment organization serving individuals and families affected by substance use. Overdose awareness is about more than one day. It is about making life-saving information easier to find, reducing stigma and ensuring people can reach treatment and recovery support when they are ready. A donation to Serenity House helps sustain programs and resources that support people as they work toward recovery, stability and a healthier future. Donate here: serenityhouse.com/donations Any amount can help. You can also support the campaign by sharing the donation link, posting one of the toolkit messages, or directing someone to serenityhouse.com to learn about services. Thank you for helping turn awareness into action. Warmly, [Your Name] |
Fundraising Templates
Create a fundraiser through the social platform of your choice, invite your workplace or community group to participate, or share Serenity House’s direct donation link.
Fundraiser title ideas
[ ] 25 Years On: Support Serenity House
[ ] Remember. Respond. Reach Out.
[ ] Turn Overdose Awareness into Action
[ ] Help Make Recovery Support Easier to Reach
[ ] A Community Fundraiser for Serenity House
FUNDRAISER DESCRIPTION This August, I am raising money for Serenity House Counseling Services in recognition of Overdose Awareness Month and International Overdose Awareness Day. The 2026 theme, 25 Years On. Still Needed, recognizes 25 years of remembrance and action while reminding us that overdose continues to affect every kind of community. Serenity House provides treatment, recovery support, and community-based services for people and families affected by substance use. Your donation can help make compassionate care and practical support easier to reach. My goal is to raise $[AMOUNT]. Please donate if you are able, and share this fundraiser to help extend its reach. Learn more: serenityhouse.com Donate directly: serenityhouse.com/donations |
MID-CAMPAIGN UPDATE We are [PERCENT OR AMOUNT] of the way to our goal for Serenity House. Thank you to everyone who has donated or shared. Overdose awareness should lead to action. Every contribution helps support treatment, recovery, and community resources. If you have not participated yet, there is still time: serenityhouse.com/donations |
THANK-YOU POST Thank you for helping me raise $[AMOUNT] for Serenity House during Overdose Awareness Month. Your support helped turn remembrance and awareness into practical action for people and families affected by substance use. I am grateful to everyone who donated, shared, or started a conversation. |
Social Media Templates
The longer copy works for Facebook or Instagram. The shorter version works well for Threads, LinkedIn, a Story caption, or a personal introduction above a shared Serenity House post.
Post 1: Campaign Launch
FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
August is Overdose Awareness Month. The 2026 International Overdose Awareness Day theme is 25 Years On. Still Needed, honoring 25 years of remembrance and action while acknowledging that overdose continues to affect families and communities everywhere.
This month, I am joining Serenity House in remembering people lost to overdose, sharing information that can save lives, and supporting compassionate treatment and recovery resources. We should not still need this day. But we do, and until we no longer do, we keep showing up.
THREADS / SHORT VERSION
25 years of remembrance and action. The work is not finished. This August, I am joining Serenity House to remember, respond, and reach out.
HASHTAGS
Post 2: Explain the Theme
FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
What does 25 Years On. Still Needed. mean? It means International Overdose Awareness Day has brought people together for 25 years, and the need for remembrance, prevention, and action remains.
It also carries hope: overdose can be prevented, naloxone can save lives, treatment works, and recovery is possible.
The goal is not to need this day forever. The goal is a future where fewer lives are lost, and support is within reach for everyone.
THREADS / SHORT VERSION
“25 Years On” honors the work already done. “Still Needed” reminds us the work is not finished. The hopeful truth: this day does not have to be needed forever.
HASHTAGS
Post 3: Carry Naloxone
FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
Naloxone is a safe medication that can reverse an opioid overdose when it is given in time. Anyone can carry it and potentially save a life.
If you think someone may be overdosing, give naloxone if it is available and call 911. Try to keep the person awake and breathing, place them on their side, and stay until help arrives.
Carrying naloxone is a practical act of community care. Learn more through the CDC and follow Serenity House for local education and resources.
THREADS / SHORT VERSION
Carry naloxone. Learn how to use it. If you suspect an overdose, give naloxone if available and call 911. A simple action can save a life.
HASHTAGS
Post 4: Know the Signs
FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
Possible signs of an opioid overdose include being unable to wake, slow or shallow breathing, choking or gurgling sounds, discolored lips or nails, and very small pupils.
If you are not sure, treat it like an overdose. Give naloxone if available, call 911, keep the person breathing, place them on their side, and stay until emergency help arrives.
Save this information. What you remember in an emergency could matter.
THREADS / SHORT VERSION
Unable to wake. Slow or stopped breathing. Gurgling sounds. Discolored lips or nails. If you are unsure, treat it like an overdose: give naloxone if available and call 911.
HASHTAGS
Post 5: Compassion and Stigma
FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
Substance use disorder is a health condition, not a measure of character. Stigma can make it harder for someone to ask questions, carry naloxone, seek treatment, or return to support after a setback.
Compassion does not ignore risk. It responds to a person’s humanity while helping them stay alive and connect with care. Listen without judgment. Use respectful language. Share resources. Keep showing up.
THREADS / SHORT VERSION
Stigma isolates. Compassion creates connection. Listen without judgment, use respectful language, and help people reach care.
HASHTAGS
Post 6: Remembrance
FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
Behind every overdose statistic is a person, someone who was loved, valued, and part of a community.
International Overdose Awareness Day creates space to remember the whole person, not only the way their life ended. It also recognizes the grief carried by families and friends, often quietly and without enough support.
Their life mattered. Their story matters. We remember.
THREADS / SHORT VERSION
Every number had a name, a story, and people who loved them. Today and throughout August, we remember the person - not only the loss.
HASHTAGS
Post 7: Support Serenity House
FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
Awareness matters most when it helps someone find the next step. Serenity House provides treatment, recovery support, and community-based services for people and families affected by substance use.
A person does not have to reach a particular “bottom” to deserve help. Families do not need to have all the answers before reaching out.
Learn more at serenityhouse.com or support the work at serenityhouse.com/donations.
THREADS / SHORT VERSION
Help should be easier to find than judgment. Learn about Serenity House services at serenityhouse.com or donate at serenityhouse.com/donations.
HASHTAGS
Post 8: Event Invitation
FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
Join Serenity House on August 31 for its 2026 Overdose Awareness Day event. We will come together to honor people lost to overdose, support those who grieve, and share resources that can help prevent future loss.
Visit serenityhouse.com for the latest event time, location, and participation details. Please share the event with anyone who may wish to remember a loved one, learn about overdose prevention, or connect with support.
THREADS / SHORT VERSION
Join Serenity House on August 31 for remembrance, education, and community action. Find the latest event details at serenityhouse.com.
HASHTAGS
Post 9: August 31
FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
Today is International Overdose Awareness Day.
For 25 years, this day has brought people together to remember those lost to overdose and take action to save lives. We should not still need it. But we do.
Today, we remember people for the lives they lived. We hold space for those who grieve. We share information that can save lives. And we recommit ourselves to making treatment, recovery support, and compassionate care easier to reach.
THREADS / SHORT VERSION
Today we remember the people behind the numbers, support those who grieve, and take action to save lives. 25 Years On. Still Needed.
HASHTAGS
Post 10: After the Event
FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM
International Overdose Awareness Day has passed, but the work continues.
We can keep naloxone accessible, learn the signs of overdose, challenge stigma, and help people connect with treatment and recovery support. Thank you to everyone who shared, donated, attended, or started a conversation this August.
Keep going. Keep caring. Keep the resources within reach.
THREADS / SHORT VERSION
The day ends. The work continues. Carry naloxone, learn the signs, challenge stigma, and help people connect with care.
HASHTAGS
Instagram and Facebook Story Templates
Shareable Education
The longer copy works for Facebook or Instagram. The shorter version works well for Threads, LinkedIn, a Story caption, or a personal introduction above a shared Serenity House post.
WHAT IS AN OVERDOSE? An overdose occurs when the body is overwhelmed by a drug or combination of substances. It can be fatal or nonfatal, and it should always be treated as a medical emergency. |
POSSIBLE SIGNS OF OPIOID OVERDOSE Inability to wake; slow, shallow or stopped breathing; choking, gurgling or unusual snoring from someone who cannot be awakened; discolored lips or nails; and very small pupils. |
WHAT TO DO If you are unsure, treat it like an overdose. Give naloxone if available and call 911. Try to keep the person awake and breathing, place them on their side, and stay until emergency help arrives. |
WHY CARRY NALOXONE? Naloxone is a safe medication that can reverse an opioid overdose when given in time. Anyone can carry it and potentially save a life. |
WORDS MATTER Use “a person with a substance use disorder” rather than labels that define someone by a health condition. Respectful language can reduce stigma and make it easier to seek support. |
Graphics and Logo
Use the downloadable materials included with the online toolkit to keep the campaign recognizable and consistent.
2026 Shareable Graphic Series
Using the Serenity House Logo
[ ] Use the logo file supplied with this toolkit rather than taking a screenshot from the website.
[ ] Keep the logo’s proportions intact. Do not stretch, recolor, outline, or rebuild it.
[ ] Place it on a calm, high-contrast area, so every part of the logo remains readable.
[ ] When sharing a completed Serenity House graphic, use the image as provided rather than adding additional logos or text over it.
[ ] The official International Overdose Awareness Day logo may be used only in accordance with the campaign’s published guidelines.
Video Resources
Share the Serenity House videos included with the blog post. The captions below give each video context and a clear next step.
Video Testimonial
SUGGESTED SHARE CAPTION Recovery is personal, but no one should have to pursue it alone. This Serenity House story is a reminder that compassionate support, treatment, and community can help someone build a different future. Watch, share, and help make recovery easier to talk about. Learn more at serenityhouse.com. |
2026 Overdose Awareness Campaign Video
SUGGESTED SHARE CAPTION 25 Years On. Still Needed. For 25 years, communities have remembered people lost to overdose and taken action to save lives. This August, join Serenity House in sharing information, reducing stigma, and keeping support within reach. Remember. Respond. Reach Out. |
Virtual Facility Tour
SUGGESTED SHARE CAPTION What does support look like inside Serenity House? Take a virtual look at the spaces where individuals receive treatment, education, structure, and recovery support. A first call does not require someone to have every answer; it simply opens a conversation. Learn about Serenity House at serenityhouse.com. |
Share Safely and Respectfully
[ ] Ask permission before sharing another person’s name, photograph, recovery story or experience with overdose.
[ ] Do not pressure anyone to disclose personal details to participate in the campaign.
[ ] Remember people for their lives, relationships and humanity - not only the circumstances of their death.
[ ] Avoid language that blames individuals or families. Overdose is a medical emergency, and substance use disorder is a health condition.
[ ] Do not share graphic images or staged crisis scenes. They can be distressing and reinforce stigma.
[ ] When posting response information, direct readers to an approved health source and remind them to call 911 in an emergency.
[ ] Add captions to videos and alt text to graphics whenever the platform allows.
A NOTE ABOUT PERSONALIZATION A short personal sentence can make a template more meaningful. Share why you care, what action you are taking, or why you support Serenity House. You never need to disclose a private experience to make a difference. |
Resources and Support
Serenity House Counseling Services is a nonprofit, community-based comprehensive treatment organization serving individuals and families affected by substance use. To learn about programs, events, and ways to help:
Serenity House | |
Donate | |
International Overdose Awareness Day | |
CDC Overdose Response Guidance |
IF SOMEONE MAY BE EXPERIENCING AN OVERDOSE Call 911. Give naloxone if it is available. Try to keep the person awake and breathing, place them on their side, and stay until emergency help arrives. |
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