Press Contact: Jessica Mahuron
Public Engagement Manager
jmahuron@rvarc.org | 540-343-4417
Greater Community Invited to Overdose Awareness Day on August 26
25th annual event honors lives lost, connects community, while providing prevention and recovery resources
Roanoke, VA – The Collective Response invites the greater community to International Overdose Awareness Day on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, from 5–7 PM at the Taubman Museum of Art (110 Salem Ave, Roanoke, VA 24011).
This event, hosted annually by the Collective Response, coincides with International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) — a global initiative aimed at honoring lives lost, raising awareness, and inspiring change. 2026 marks its 25th anniversary.
The greater Roanoke Valley stands with communities across the world to commemorate 25 years of IOAD for an evening of hope, healing, and remembrance to honor lives lost, support those impacted, and connect with local resources.
The community gathering, open and welcome to all, will include:
- A tribute slideshow honoring loved ones lost to overdose
- A memorial wall (attendees are encouraged to bring a photo)
- Connections to local recovery and prevention resources
- A space for healing, remembrance, and hope
Attendees can submit the name of a loved one for inclusion in the tribute slideshow by emailing cjones@rvarc.org.
Bailey Medeiros, Director of the Collective Response, shared that “every overdose death represents a person who was deeply loved and whose life mattered. Overdose Awareness Day allows our community to honor their memory while also taking meaningful action to reduce stigma, expand access to lifesaving resources, and support all those impacted by substance use. This event is about more than remembrance. It’s about coming together around for a shared purpose. We gather to honor those we’ve lost, stand alongside the grieving, and recommit ourselves to building a community where fewer families experience this kind of loss. Lasting change happens when a community chooses compassion and collaboration.”
Preliminary 2025 data from the Virginia Department of Health show that 1,197 Virginians died from drug overdoses, a 23% decrease from 2024. While this represents meaningful progress, drug overdose remains the leading cause of preventable death, underscoring the continued need for prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery supports across the Commonwealth.
The Collective Response invites the entire community to participate in the Light It Up Purple campaign on Sunday, August 31. Homes, businesses, and landmarks across the Roanoke Valley can show their support by shining purple lights that evening. Whether by changing a porch light, illuminating a storefront, or spotlighting a landmark, lighting up purple sends a powerful message that overdose is preventable and that our community stands together.
In recognition of IOAD and National Recovery Month, the Wells Fargo Tower will be illuminated in purple on August 26 and 31st.
Recovery Month, observed annually in September, provides an opportunity for our communities to acknowledge the strength, resilience, and stories of those in recovery while honoring the voices that inspire hope and change. Discover more about opportunities to connect with resources and get involved at rvcollectiveresponse.org/recoverymonth.
The Collective Response is a leading initiative tackling the addiction crises serving communities and individuals in the Roanoke Valley- Alleghany Region. Their mission: united to build, sustain, and support communities by responding to addiction and promoting recovery and wellness.
International Overdose Awareness Day is convened by the Penington Institute, an independent drug policy nonprofit. Learn more at overdoseday.com.
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