On Sunday, August 31, 2025, communities across the United States paused to observe International Overdose Awareness Day, a moment dedicated to honoring those lost to overdose, supporting survivors, and recognizing the profound impact of the opioid epidemic. At the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, Pennsylvania, the day’s significance was felt deeply as veterans, families, clinicians, and advocates gathered to reflect, remember, and recommit to the fight against addiction and overdose.
Andrew Beasom of Penfield stood quietly by the hospital’s flagpole, accompanied by Romeo, a loyal American Staffordshire terrier, pit bull, and boxer mix. The dog once belonged to Dominic Falcone, an Army veteran who died from an inadvertent methadone overdose around Thanksgiving 2024. As “Taps” played, Beasom recalled the brotherhood he shared with Falcone—a bond forged through shared struggles in the Army and battles with addiction. “He was a good dude,” Beasom said, his words echoing the sentiment of many who knew Falcone. According to Beasom, Falcone was compassionate and protective, always ready to stand up for friends, even when his own health was failing.
Falcone’s story is not unique. Veterans, like so many others, have found themselves ensnared in the web of opioid dependence. Beasom himself, a combat veteran who served in Iraq, recounted his own journey: after a back injury in a training accident, he was prescribed morphine for years. When the prescriptions stopped abruptly, he was left to navigate withdrawal alone. “They made me quit cold turkey,” he said. “Off to the street I went.” Eventually, he turned to methamphetamine, a path familiar to many who lose access to prescribed pain relief.
At the ceremony, chaplain Julia Allen led a prayer, and clinicians like nurse practitioner Sandra Rhodes and pharmacist Karch Helsel spoke about the hospital’s approach to pain management. Their team, which includes pharmacists, nurses, and a psychologist, works to steer patients away from addictive medications, offering alternatives such as battlefield acupuncture. According to Allen, there were 55 overdose deaths in Blair County in 2023 and 251 in the hospital’s 14-county territory that year—both numbers representing a decline from the previous year. Yet, as Allen and others emphasized, each loss remains deeply personal and painful.
The narrative of loss and hope echoed across Northeast Pennsylvania, where Carol Coolbaugh of West Pittston marked International Overdose Awareness Day while recovering from surgery. Her son Erik, who struggled with addiction for over 18 years, died of an overdose—a loss that propelled Coolbaugh into advocacy. She became a vital force in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program and founded a local chapter of Grief Recovery After Substance Passing (GRASP). Her efforts, alongside those of others, have contributed to a significant decline in overdose deaths in the region.
Data from Lackawanna and Luzerne counties tell a story of progress: Lackawanna County recorded 43 overdose deaths in 2024, down from 110 in 2021, while Luzerne County saw a decrease from 208 deaths in 2021 to 89 in 2024. Wyoming County, too, has maintained five or fewer fatal overdoses annually since 2020, a drop from a high of nine in 2019. Officials attribute these declines to a combination of factors: the widespread availability of naloxone, a life-saving opioid reversal drug; expanded treatment options; educational outreach; and law enforcement efforts targeting drug trafficking organizations.
Coolbaugh’s activism extended beyond the classroom and into the streets of Wilkes-Barre, where she distributed naloxone to those most at risk. “We can celebrate the falling numbers, but we can’t forget the grief each loss brings to a family,” she said, underscoring the persistent pain that lingers despite statistical improvements. Pam Keefe, who lost her daughter Michalene to addiction in 2018, echoed this sentiment. Keefe founded Michalene’s Mission, a nonprofit focused on harm reduction, including mobile syringe services. Both women transformed their grief into action, determined to prevent other families from experiencing similar heartbreak.
Law enforcement officials have also adapted their strategies. Wyoming County District Attorney Joe Peters cited a shift toward investigating drug trafficking organizations rather than just individual dealers. By partnering with federal agencies, local authorities have gained access to intelligence and resources that help disrupt the supply chain at its source. “Every arrest of a dealer is not the end of a case, but the beginning of an investigation upward into suppliers and those in charge of an organization,” Peters explained. In Lackawanna County, District Attorney Brian Gallagher noted the evolution of the drug landscape—from heroin to fentanyl—and the need for vigilance as traffickers adopt new tactics, such as shipping drugs to random addresses.
Both prosecutors emphasized the importance of distinguishing between traffickers and individuals struggling with addiction. Gallagher pointed out, “Anyone who is a pure drug trafficker will not seek help from law enforcement. People who are drug addicts or middle men accumulating drugs and selling them to feed their habit, there is potential help for them.” The use of prosecution for “drug delivery resulting in death” has become a tool to hold suppliers accountable while offering pathways to recovery for those willing to seek help.
Stories of recovery and resilience were also front and center. Sara Altemose, now sober for five years, attended Overdose Awareness Day events to support others. After losing her sister Erica to a fentanyl overdose in January 2020, Altemose resolved to honor her memory by building a new life. “I’m living a life beyond what I imagined,” she said, reflecting on her journey through rehabilitation, motherhood, and ongoing participation in 12-step meetings. Her message is one of hope: recovery is possible, and support is available for those willing to reach out.
Meanwhile, in Maine, Governor Mills issued a proclamation declaring August 31, 2025, as International Overdose Awareness Day in the state. The governor praised the more than 20% decline in fatal overdoses—from 213 deaths between January and June 2025—marking the state’s largest decrease since 2018. But Mills cautioned against complacency, urging continued commitment to prevention, treatment, and recovery. “Today, on International Overdose Awareness Day, we remember those we’ve lost, we comfort their friends and families, and we refuse to relent in our work to prevent substance use from claiming the lives of more Maine people,” she said, as reported by WABI.
Gordon Smith, Maine’s Director of Opioid Response, echoed this call for vigilance. “The declining number of overdoses and overdose deaths in Maine gives us hope that our collective efforts are working, but we can’t let up,” he said. Sara Gagné-Holmes, Commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services, emphasized the need to break down stigma and expand access to treatment. “By standing together, we honor those we’ve lost and advance our commitment to a healthier, more hopeful future for Maine.”
Across the country, communities marked the day with ceremonies, educational events, and outreach programs. Resources such as the 988 mental health crisis line, Treatment Connection’s search tool, and the OPTIONS initiative in Maine provided immediate support to those in need. The message was clear: while progress has been made in reducing overdose deaths, the fight is far from over. Behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a community forever changed.
As the sun set on International Overdose Awareness Day, the resolve to remember, support, and act remained strong. The journey continues, driven by the stories of loss, hope, and the unwavering belief that every life matters.
