Event will include naloxone training, a resource fair, and a memorial tribute

– The San Luis Obispo County Department of Behavioral Health and the Opioid Safety Coalition will host SLO Overdose Awareness Day from noon to 3 p.m. Aug. 29 at Mitchell Park in San Luis Obispo.

The event will take place in recognition of SLO Overdose Awareness Day and in tandem with International Overdose Awareness Day, an annual global initiative focused on ending overdoses, honoring those lost without judgment, and recognizing the grief experienced by loved ones.

Community partners, people in recovery, and people impacted by overdose are invited to attend.

“Early intervention saves lives, and it starts with open conversations,” said Dana McEwen, San Luis Obispo Director of Behavioral Health. “When we talk openly about substance use, grief, and the realities of overdose, we make it easier for people to ask for help. By creating spaces like this event, we work to break down stigma and ensure everyone knows support is available, accessible, and judgment-free.”

The event will feature a keynote presentation, “Talking About Grief: How to Talk About What No One Wants to Talk About,” by Jamie Metzgar, Director of Grief Support and Education at Hospice SLO.

The event also will include free naloxone training and a resource fair featuring local substance use prevention organizations. A candlelit memorial tribute will conclude the event to honor people who died from overdose. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

San Luis Obispo County recorded 42 opioid-related overdose deaths in 2024, the most recent full year of data available through the California Overdose Dashboard. The county recorded 78 such deaths in 2023, representing a 45.59% decrease in 2024.

The information provided by the county states that local leaders and advocates believe the decrease stems from prevention efforts across the county. Those efforts include increased availability of free naloxone, with more than 2,600 units distributed from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

Other prevention efforts include youth outreach through the film “Fentanyl High,” including a local screening, and the “Fentanyl is Forever” educational campaign, which generated more than 1,282,230 impressions from community members.

“SLO Overdose Awareness Day creates a space for awareness and belonging, where people at all stages of grief can feel supported and seen, and where we remember and honor loved ones lost to overdose,” said Jenn Rhoads, County of San Luis Obispo Behavioral Health Opioid Safety Coordinator. “We celebrate lives saved with naloxone and treatment, and recognize the community still needs us to be vigilant in prevention. By hearing personal stories, learning prevention strategies, and breaking the silence, we can help remove the stigma around overdose. It affects people from all walks of life in SLO County—and only together can we stop it.”

The event will take place at Mitchell Park, 1400 Osos St. in San Luis Obispo. Admission is free and open to all community members.

Community members not able to attend this year’s event can access free Overdose Reversal Kits by placing orders online at NaloxoneNowSLO.org or at one of fifty community locations, including free-standing NaloxBox distribution sites. Free Naloxone is also available at Behavioral Health clinics in San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles, and Atascadero.  

More details about the Opioid Safety Coalition and SLO Behavioral Health Overdose Prevention can be found www.slocounty.ca.gov/osc. Community members may access substance use treatment services by calling SLO Behavioral Health at 1-800-838-1381. 

ABOUT SLO OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY 

SLO Overdose Awareness Day, founded by Kim Lacey after the accidental overdose of her son, is an annual local event created with the support of the International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) in Australia. SLO Overdose Awareness Day is a San Luis Obispo County nonprofit committed to raising awareness and providing resources about overdose, including how to access  Naloxone and training to administer it. Through awareness campaigns, education initiatives, and community engagement, the organization strives to create a healthier and safer environment for all residents.