Health Education Observances

International Overdose Awareness Day is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind. The campaign raises awareness of overdose, which is one of the world’s worst public health crises, and stimulates action and discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy.

National Suicide Prevention Week provides a moment in time to create awareness of this leading cause of death and inspire more and more people to learn how they can play a role in their communities in helping to save lives.

Founded in 2001 by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Use (now Partnership to End Addiction), Family Day works with organizations across the country to educate parents about how everyday activities, like sharing a meal, playing a game, or asking about their day, can make a difference in the life of a child.

The overall objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.

For more than 20 years, the Society for Public Health Education has celebrated National Health Education Week, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, to increase national awareness on major public health issues and promote a better understanding of the role of health education.

Unity Day lands on the third Wednesday of October. Plan to wear and share the color orange—as a tangible representation of the supportive, universal message that our society wants to prevent bullying, and is united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

The Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects the DEA’s commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting.

Lung Cancer Awareness Month aims to spread awareness that lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the United States and worldwide, and smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer.

Thousands of people get together for the Great American Smokeout to support others looking to quit tobacco-use, by encouraging them to start with day one on this day. Many use this opportunity to share information about free cessation and some also use the opportunity to share messages aligned with tobacco and vape use prevention efforts.

February is American Heart Month, a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health. Cigarette smoking greatly increases your risk for heart disease.
 

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week®, or NDAFW, is an annual, week-long, health observance that inspires dialogue about the science of drug use and addiction among youth. It provides an opportunity to bring together scientists, students, educators, healthcare providers, and community partners—to help advance science, so that we can improve the prevention and awareness of substance misuse in our own communities and nationwide.

While national figures show a downward trend in the number of young people who use alcohol, alcohol remains the number one drug of choice for America’s youth, and it is more likely to kill young people than all illegal drugs combined. That’s why it is important to get involved in Alcohol Awareness Month, observed annually throughout April. Sponsored by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), Alcohol Awareness Month encourages community organizations to host events that increase public awareness and educate people about the treatment and prevention of alcoholism.

National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, is a campaign that promotes safe driving habits and provides strategies for avoiding or preventing distractions while driving or riding along as a passenger.

National Day of Action is a national tobacco observance used to recognize youth contributions to tobacco prevention efforts. It is a youth-centered event that allows young people to highlight their efforts to fight the tobacco industry’s influence on their peers and in their communities.

Earth Day is used to change it all — the business climate, the political climate, and how our communities can take action on climate in order to preserve and protect health, families, and everyone’s livelihoods. Tobacco plays a role in endangering the health of the environment. Some use this day to share information on the negative impacts that tobacco and vape-use has on the environment.

National Fentanyl Awareness Day to raise awareness about an urgent national problem: people are dying at alarming rates due to illicit fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid. Get the facts and share them widely.​

Mental Health Awareness Month helps us take action for mental health by supporting the national movement to raise awareness about stigma, promote resources, and educate others on healthy coping strategies. Mental wellness is an important part of life and it can be an essential part of substance use prevention.

The objective of National Prevention Week is to raise awareness about substance use prevention and positive mental health. The event is the culmination of the work that many are doing every day to strengthen communities, build resilience, and create hope.

The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. Many join these efforts by raising awareness in their own communities.