At Mothers for Awareness and Prevention of Drug Abuse (MAPDA), we believe the greatest gift is a conversation — and Overdose Awareness Day can be the opportunity a family needs to start that conversation.

In 2010, Janet Janes tragically lost her son, Christopher, to an overdose after he experimented with a potent prescription drug. Devastated but determined, Janet channeled her loss into action and created Mothers for Awareness and Prevention of Drug Abuse (MAPDA) to help other grieving mothers who suffered similar losses.

As more people learned about MAPDA’s work, we began speaking in schools to educate children and teens about the deadly danger of misuse and abuse of prescription drugs. We urged parents to have conversations with their loved ones that foster understanding, offer support, and potentially guide individuals towards seeking help and recovery. And we created talking points and thought starters to encourage individuals looking for help to start the conversation themselves. Over the years, our focus has remained the same — to prevent overdose deaths through education and awareness.

As the mother of three small children, it is my strong hope that we can reverse the opioid overdose crisis that has been sweeping America before another generation of children are faced with the same threat. I know that this begins with an open dialog with my family.

Overdose and opioid addiction impact individuals from all walks of life, and no family is immune. In 2023, more than 107,000 Americans lost their lives to a drug overdose, 708 of whom were adolescents. And despite a decrease in overdose deaths, the looming threat of opioids remains present for too many families and individuals.

As a member of the Families, Addiction & Mental Health Network’s (FAM) Take Control of Pain initiative, MAPDA is continuing our fight against overdose deaths by focusing on the opportunity to prevent addiction before it begins. With Take of Control of Pain, we’re working to increase awareness and education about pain treatment options and empower parents, families, and patients with the tools and resources they need to make informed decisions. 

While each story of overdose is personal, the grief from loss and the hope for healing are universal. I have seen firsthand the stigma, the misunderstanding, and the gaps in education and awareness that make the burden even heavier for families across the country.

FAM and Take Control of Pain embody the core of what MAPDA believes in: that the greatest gift is a conversation. On this day, I urge everyone to talk to their loved ones about the risks of overdose and how you can prevent addiction before it begins. FAM’s caregiver discussion guide can help empower your loved one to stay safe when navigating pain treatment options. Finally, get involved in FAM to receive the resources and information you need to keep the conversation going.

On International Overdose Awareness Day, we honor those who have lost their lives by advocating for a future where no family faces the pain of losing a loved one to an overdose.

Together we can start a conversation and end overdoses.