Illustration by Nancy Delgado
Narrated by Morrigan Crowe
International Overdose Awareness Day, August 31, began in Australia in 2001 and has grown into a global campaign. Twenty-five years later, it continues to honor those lives lost to overdose and the families and friends carrying their memories forward.
At Benton-Franklin Health District (BFHD), we track overdose deaths to better understand who is most affected, strengthen prevention efforts, and help more people get a second chance. This year, we join communities around the world in remembering those we have lost, and turning remembrance into action.
The Footprints We Carry
Your footsteps may have ended,
But your footprints remain.
They live in every laugh we remember,
Every story we tell,
Every kindness we share,
Every heart you touched.
You are more than the day we lost you.
More than the struggle you carried.
Your life was love.
Your life mattered.
Though we cannot change your journey,
We can choose where your footprints lead.
They guide us toward compassion,
Away from judgment,
Toward hope,
And toward the courage to save another life.
So we carry your memory,
Not as a weight,
But as a light.
A reminder to speak,
To care,
To reach out,
And to carry a second chance.
Every conversation.
Every act of kindness.
Every naloxone kit.
Another footprint.
Because your story did not end with loss.
It continues in every life
That finds hope because you were here.
— BFHD Staff
One way to honor those who have died is to carry naloxone — also known by the brand name Narcan. Naloxone can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, giving someone time to receive emergency care.
Naloxone is available over the counter at many pharmacies and major retailers. Those who can may purchase it directly or use insurance. Free naloxone is also available through community organizations and the Washington State Department of Health’s Naloxone Finder. Adventures Underground also provides free naloxone but is not currently shown on the map. Thank you, AU, for all you do!
Naloxone is safe and easy to carry in a purse, backpack, or first-aid kit. Anyone can carry it — and anyone can save a life.
Washington’s Good Samaritan Overdose Law provides some legal protection for people who seek emergency medical help in good faith during an overdose. Anyone may carry and administer naloxone! So call 911, give naloxone, and stay with the person until help arrives.
Visit BFHD’s Be a User, Save a Life website at www.BeAUser.org to learn how to recognize and respond to an overdose, safely store medications, and support people wherever they are in their recovery.
Want to join others in honoring loved ones lost? Join the community, hosted by the grassroots group Overdose Awareness Tri-Cities Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Lampson office parking lot, 607 E. Columbia Drive in Kennewick.
OVERDOSE AWARENESS
Saturday, August 22
607 E. Columbia Drive, Kennewick
- 1:00pm: Resource tables
- 5:30pm: Memorial Remembrance Ceremony.
- 7:00pm: Cable Bridge walk
Together, we will remember those we have lost, support the people who loved them, and strengthen our commitment to saving lives.
