International Overdose Awareness Day has been led in Australia for over a decade by the The Penington Institute, named after Dr David Penington who helped shape the Australian response to the HIV epidemic of the 80’s. Dr Penington’s work with affected communities, healthcare professionals, and policymakers at the time, set a global standard – founded on facts, not fear.

Professor Penington continued to apply this approach in the area of drug use, and consulted with state governments on drug policy in the 90’s. Meanwhile, in 2001 at the Salvation Army needle exchange in Melbourne, a worker sowed the seeds of International Overdose Awareness Day.

John Ryan, CEO of the Penington Institute spoke with the Wires Nicky Page ahead of the annually observed day.

Image: Image UnSplash – Roberto Sorin

Produced By: Nicky Page, and Emma Wotzke

Featured In Story: John Ryan – Inaugural CEO of Penington Institute, and

First aired on The Wire, Thursday 29 August 2024