Purple Ribbons for Overdose Prevention

The need to raise national awareness about the growing crisis of accidental overdose is urgent and must happen now. In California, from 2002-2006, overdose deaths grew significantly by 11.4 percent. Los Angeles alone loses over 700 of its citizens to accidental drug and alcohol overdose every year. We are urging you to adopt the visual symbol of our fight to save lives and prevent overdose. Purple Ribbons for Overdose Prevention is a national effort to bring urgently needed attention to this largely neglected and growing epidemic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more people ages 35-54 now die from accidental overdose than from any other injury-related cause. More than 22,000 American lives are lost each year to drug overdose. That is equivalent to the passenger load of 55 jumbo jets. Nationally, accidental overdose is second only to motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of all injury-related deaths. Perhaps even more disturbing is that increasing numbers of teens and young adults are dying from overdose every year; it is now the second leading cause of injury-related death for people ages 15-34.

Why is this happening? The recent nationwide spike in accidental drug overdose deaths has been driven largely by opioid prescription drugs such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, as well as an increase in prescribing methadone for chronic pain. Many patients simply do not understand the risks associated with the use of such drugs and therefore can take too many, misunderstand directions or warning labels, or combine them with other drugs or an alcoholic beverage.

While many deaths from drug overdose are completely preventable, the federal government remains uncommitted to promoting both the science and the success of overdose prevention programs. Yet such programs do save lives. They are inexpensive and highly effective. Further, in these economic times, because drug overdose cases are rushed to emergency rooms, preventing these cases will reduce hospitalization costs and relieve pressure on limited health care resources.

You can be part of the change. Join us.