Linea de Acceso para Servicos y Crisis, Gratuito y Disponible las 24 Horas del Dia (888) 868-1649. Para emergencias medicas, llame al 911.
Linea de Acceso para Servicos y Crisis, Gratuito y Disponible las 24 Horas del Dia (888) 868-1649. Para emergencias medicas, llame al 911.
Photo courtesy of FamiliesAct!
The official theme for the year’s drug prevention and awareness campaign is “Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free.” The theme highlights that choosing to live drug-free is an act of leadership and courage—and that everyday decisions can positively influence peers, families, and communities.
The nationwide initiative began in 1985 to honor DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was tragically killed while investigating drug cartels in Mexico. Today, it remains the largest drug-prevention program in the country, encouraging students, families, and businesses to take a visible stand against substance abuse.
For planning materials and event-related merchandise, visit the campaign website. Check back here for news on local events and educational activities.
This bi-annual event is hosted on the last Saturday of April and October by the Drug Enforcement Administration and encourages the safe and responsible disposal of unused or expired prescription medications.
If you have unneeded or expired medications you need to clear out right now, you do not have to wait for an official Take Back Day. The DEA offers safe disposal resources and year-round drop-off options.
You can use the DEA’s collection locator to find a drop-off location near you, or visit our safe medication disposal page for more local options.
Sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), this annual event is focused on the science of drug use and addiction that educates and empowers youth to make informed decisions about substance use and their health.
NDAFW offers educators, prevention specialists, counselors, and other youth intermediaries flexible programming to identify topics of greatest interest to their community and science-based information and resources that help improve knowledge and awareness, while also promoting skills that support informed decision-making, healthy coping, and other skills that are critical to the prevention of substance use among youth.
To get involved or access educational materials, visit the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Check out the Guide to Hosting a Naloxone Demonstration and accompanying educational presentation.
April 29, 2027, will mark the sixth annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day, founded by parents who lost loved ones to the overdose crisis. This observance aims to equip youth, parents, educators, and communities with the knowledge and tools needed to prevent both fatal and nonfatal overdoses. On April 29, you can:
Together, these actions can help protect young people, save lives, and reduce overdose deaths.
Visit the CDC website for their National Fentanyl Awareness Day Toolkit.
August 21st is a coordinated day of response by grassroots fentanyl awareness organizations and families impacted by fentanyl to educate the public about the dangers of illicit fentanyl.
This day unites families, first responders, prevention advocates, educators, elected officials, and communities in every state. Together, we share facts, honor those we’ve lost, and take action to protect others. Events are held nationwide, from memorials and educational forums to social media campaigns and policy discussions.
To learn more visit the Facing Fentanyl website.
The Pacific Pride Festival returns to Santa Barbara’s waterfront for another powerful day of community, celebration, and collective movement. This year’s theme, “Out. Proud. Unstoppable.”, honors the strength of showing up fully, the joy of living authentically, and the momentum we create when we move together. Inspired by the rhythm of the coast, this year invites us to see our voices as waves—individually powerful, and unstoppable when united. While we build toward 2026, we carry forward the energy of last year’s incredible gathering—where thousands came together to celebrate identity, expression, and belonging in a vibrant, intergenerational space.
To learn more visit the Pacific Pride Foundation website.
The global theme for the 2026 campaign, which marks the event’s 25th annivarsary, is “25 Years On. Still Needed.” “Still needed” reflects a shared global truth: overdose continues to affect people from every walk of life. It also points to something else – something hopeful. Overdose is preventable. We know what works. Because while this day is still needed, it doesn’t have to be forever. Together, we can create a future where fewer lives are lost, where support is within reach for everyone, and where one day this global moment of remembrance is no longer necessary. Until then, we remember. We act. And we continue – together.
Visit the International Overdose Awareness Day campaign platform to register an event, access toolkits, or discover virtual tributes. Show solidarity by wearing a silver ribbon or using the campaign’s digital awareness badges. And stay tuned here for more information on local events.