26-1272: A Proclamation Recognizing International Overdose Grief Day

Description

A Proclamation Recognizing International Overdose Grief Day

Summary

Denver City Council Proclamation No. 26-1272 designates August 31 as Denver Overdose Grief Day, aligning with the international observance formerly known as Overdose Awareness Day. The proclamation recognizes people who have died from or experienced overdose and their families and communities, citing fentanyl, methamphetamine, polysubstance use, and an unregulated drug supply. It reports 563 drug-related deaths among Denver residents in 2025 and identifies overdose as the leading cause of death among Denver’s unhoused population. The proclamation challenges stigma and criminalization, supports public mourning, and highlights harm-reduction tools including naloxone, testing strips, syringe and pipe access, and drug checking. It directs the Clerk and Recorder to certify the proclamation and send it to the Harm Reduction Action Center.