Content Warning: This article discusses drug use, heroin addiction, and trauma. John Makohen, a seasoned substance use counselor and author of *A Heroin User’s Guide to Harm Reduction*, shares his lived experience of life on the streets, the risks of drug use, and the lessons that shaped his journey toward recovery.

Every year on August 31, people worldwide come together for a cause that is painfully personal to many—International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD). This day is more than just a date on the calendar; it's a powerful movement. It's an opportunity to grieve, remember, educate, and, most importantly, spark change.