Download IOAD Partners’ Report
Penington Institute is proud to release the 2025 International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) Partners’ Report, showcasing the extraordinary global effort to end overdose and honour the lives of those we have lost.
This year’s campaign theme – One big family, driven by hope – captured the spirit of a worldwide movement united by compassion, action and the unwavering belief that every life affected by overdose matters. Across 37 countries, communities came together to remember, learn, advocate and call for evidence-based solutions that protect health, safety and dignity.
A global effort, united for change
The 2025 Partners’ Report highlights the scale and strength of the IOAD movement:
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1,016 recorded events held across the world
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156,000+ people attending IOAD activities
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195+ landmarks lit purple in solidarity
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850,000 people reached via social media
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26,000+ downloads of education and campaign resources
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5,000 media mentions, amplifying urgent conversations about overdose
Despite signs of declining overdose fatalities in some countries, the report reinforces that one death is one too many. The global IOAD community continues to push for compassionate, evidence-based policies and to challenge the stigma that keeps people from the care and support they deserve.
Honouring lives. Strengthening communities. Driving change.
The report shares powerful stories from around the world from Finland to Zimbabwe, from South Africa to India. Together, these stories show the diversity of IOAD and the shared commitment to ending preventable overdose.
Survey insights also reveal the heart of the movement:
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92% of respondents say IOAD opens up conversations about overdose
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79% feel a sense of community through IOAD
- 91% of respondents believe that IOAD is an important platform from which to advocate for change.
Looking ahead to a milestone year
In 2026, IOAD marks its 25th anniversary – a significant moment for renewed momentum. What began in Australia in 2001 has grown into a global campaign spanning nearly 40 countries. The Partners’ Report calls on communities, advocates and policymakers to make 2026 a defining year for progress.
Read the 2025 IOAD Partners’ Report to explore this year’s global participation, community insights, and campaign impact.