August 31st of every year has been declared International Overdose Awareness Day. A day to bring awareness to this epidemic and the lives lost from it.

According to the CDC (STATCAST-Week of September 9, 2019) over 770,000 Americans have died from drug overdoses since 1999, and the total number of deaths jumped from 16,849 in 1999 to a high mark of 70, 237 in 2017 with a slight decline in 2018 of 67,637. 

We are asking that on this day, for all states to lower their flags to half-staff in remembrance of those lives lost from the disease of addiction. And we know that it can be done because it was done for the Corona Virus when 100,000 lives were lost from it. 

“An easy way to remember when to fly the US flag at half-staff is to consider when the whole nation is in mourning. (We are). These periods of mourning are proclaimed either by the POTUS, for national remembrance, or the governor of a state for local remembrance”, according to the Guidance from US Department of Veteran’ Affairs publication. 

Our crisis certainly qualifies. Therefore, we respectfully ask you, our President and our Governors to lower your flags on August 31, 2021 on International Overdose Awareness Day in remembrance of all who have died and with hope for a healthier nation tomorrow. 

THEIR LIVES MATTERED TOO!! 

Thank you!!