Overdose Awareness Month at CHSU: Remembering Lives and Inspiring Action

August 31, 2026

Written by Denna Hadipour, OMS-II, OPC Internal Education Sub-Chair

In recognition of Overdose Awareness month, the CHSU Overdose Prevention Committee (OPC) introduced its mission and schedule of month-long events to incoming first-year CHSU medical students.

Students received purple awareness ribbons and informational flyers, while trees throughout campus were decorated with purple ribbons for the duration of the month.

OPC also distributed newly developed naloxone pocket cards containing overdose warning signs, emergency response steps, and harm-reduction resources. Designed to fit inside a wallet, the cards provide a convenient, portable reference that students, faculty, and community members can carry with them.

Purple ribbons tied on trees along the CHSU breezeway
OPC Chair Oluwabomi Adekoya introducing the committee to first-year medical students alongside OPC members Denna Hadipour, Esmeralda Menjivar, and Amitoj Singh
A table prepared with informational flyers and purple “Overdose Awareness” ribbons.

Building on these campus-wide outreach efforts, OPC created an educational display near the Teaching Kitchen to raise awareness about fentanyl risks, opioid overdose prevention, and the lifesaving role of naloxone.

The display featured intranasal naloxone devices, fentanyl test strips, overdose response information, and a flour-based representation of approximately two milligrams of fentanyl an amount which has often been cited as potentially lethal.

During lunch on Mondays and Wednesdays, OPC members answered questions, shared information about the committee’s mission, and demonstrated how to recognize an opioid overdose and administer intranasal naloxone.

OPC member Amitoj Singh speaking with OMS-I medical student Ruchi Shetti.
Classroom tables prepared for the overdose awareness memorial event with purple table runners and candles arranged as centerpieces.

To bring Overdose Awareness Month to a meaningful close, the CHSU Overdose Prevention Committee joined the Zachary Horton Foundation and Hinds LifeCare to host a community memorial event on August 31, International Overdose Awareness Day.

Attendees gathered to connect, honor loved ones affected by overdose, and place memorial objects before a formal remembrance program.

More than 10 community organizations participated including: including behavioral health and substance use recovery programs, grief-support and advocacy groups, a local syringe-services program, and the CHSU Overdose Prevention Committee (OPC).

Together, they distributed naloxone and fentanyl test strips while connecting attendees with local support services, opioid overdose prevention information, and other harm-reduction resources.

Overall, Overdose Awareness Month provided meaningful opportunities for CHSU students and community members to learn about opioid overdose prevention, reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorders, honor lives lost to overdose, and recognize the important role future physicians can play in preventing overdoses and saving lives.

Interested in getting involved? Contact SOMA-OPC at soma-opc@chsu.edu, follow @CHSU_OPC on Instagram, or explore more OPC articles to learn about the committee’s events and community impact.