Whatcom County 2026 Overdose Awareness Day Events Offer Support and Education

This year, Whatcom County will observe International Overdose Awareness Day with a series of community events throughout August. These events bring together community members, support organizations, and individuals with lived experience to honor those lost to overdose, raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote access to vital resources and support. The series is presented by Recovery Café Bellingham in partnership with the Whatcom Recovery Coalition, Whatcom County Health and Community Services, and the Chuckanut Health Foundation.

• The series begins with the Voices of Recovery Panel & Open Mic on Saturday, August 15, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the First Baptist Church/Recovery Café, 110 Flora Street. This event will focus on the power of our stories to overcome stigma. It is free to the public.
• On Friday, August 28, from noon to 4:00 PM, the Annual Overdose Awareness Resource Fair will take place on the Bellingham City Hall lawn at 210 Lottie Street. The event begins with a community blessing at noon and offers casual, come-and-go opportunities to connect with experts, learn about Good Samaritan laws, and receive instruction on how to identify an overdose, administer nasal Naloxone (Narcan), and safely store the medication. Local partner organizations will be on-site tabling and sharing resources. 
• The series concludes on International Overdose Awareness Day, Monday, August 31, with a Community Memorial at Maritime Heritage Park from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. This event will feature candles for every person lost to overdose since 2019, a keynote speaker Hanah Warthan with Mission for Missy, and an interfaith prayer table with a focus on holding hope for those still battling addiction. This event will also feature a Memorial Wall honoring names and photos of loved ones lost to overdose. The purpose of this wall is to allow our community to mourn together, heal together, and reflect on the value of the lives of those we lost while holding hope for the living. Community members who wish to include a loved one on the display may email names and photos to [email protected].

For general inquiries, vendor registration, or Memorial Wall submissions, please contact [email protected].

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is observed globally on August 31 to build a better understanding of overdose, reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths, and foster change that reduces the harms associated with substance use. 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of IOAD). Learn more at overdoseday.org.

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