This August, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) are launching Friends for Life, a statewide campaign to help young people and the adults who care about them talk openly about opioids like fentanyl and other drugs. The campaign comes at an important time, as communities work together to prevent overdoses, strengthen protection for youth, and ensure every person has the tools to stay safe.
This month also includes International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31, a day of remembrance, education, and action. Friends for Life offers timely, practical resources to help families and communities engage in conversations that can save lives as we recognize International Overdose Awareness Day.
What is Friends for Life?
Friends for Life is a communications campaign adapted for Oregon from the Washington State Health Care Authority. It provides clear, supportive information tailored to young people ages 13 to 25, as well as parents, caregivers, educators, and trusted adults. The campaign focuses on:
- Understanding opioids like fentanyl and how they affect Oregon communities
- Helping teens avoid fake pills and opioids
- Preventing overdose and recognizing the signs
- Learning how to use naloxone
- Supporting recovery
The campaign focuses on positive messaging, avoiding fear and stigma, and encourages simple actions people can take to protect their friends, families, and communities.
International Overdose Awareness Day
International Overdose Awareness Day (Aug. 31) is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those lost, and support the families, friends, and communities who continue to feel the impact.
International Overdose Awareness Day reminds us that every life matters, and every conversation counts. Friends for Life builds on that spirit by giving young people and the adults in their lives the tools to talk openly about drugs, make safer choices, and prevent future tragedies.
Resources for youth
Young people have a powerful influence on their friends. The campaign encourages youth to:
- Learn the facts at www.orfriendsforlife.com
- Talk with friends about staying safe and avoiding fake pills and fentanyl.
- Learn how to prevent or reverse an overdose.
- Feel confident supporting friends who may be struggling.
Guidance for parents, caregivers, and trusted adults
Teens often say they want to hear from the adults in their lives about drugs. Friends for Life offers guidance to help adults start the conversation:
- Talk during calmer moments, like car rides or shared meals.
- Ask questions and listen without judgment.
- Stay calm—fear gets in the way of learning.
- Emphasize care, compassion, and curiosity.
- Keep the conversation going through small, ongoing check-ins.
Adults can find more information and resources on the Friends for Life website.
Supports for schools and organizations
Schools and community organizations work every day to help youth and families stay safe. They can find tools to support overdose prevention in their communities on the ODE Substance Use Prevention website and Friends for Life Toolkit.
Why we need Friends for Life
Although youth account for a small percentage of overdose deaths—4 percent in 2024—every life lost is devastating. In Oregon, overdose deaths decreased from 106 in 2023 to 59 in 2024, but there is still work to do. More than half of youth overdoses happen when someone else is present, meaning there is often an opportunity to call 911 and administer naloxone.
Friends for Life is Oregon’s first youth-focused prevention campaign. By investing in this effort, OHA and ODE hope to help communities prevent drug use before it starts and ensure people have the tools they need to stay safe.
Friends for Life is part of Oregon’s larger overdose prevention strategy, which includes funding for local prevention and treatment programs, peer services, and building Behavioral Health Regional Networks in every Oregon county.
Supporting youth in recovery
Friends for Life helps communities support young people on their recovery journey by providing information on:
- Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) and how they help people recover safely
- Tips on how to support friends in their recovery journey
- Connections to recovery resources across Oregon
- How to get support for your recovery at school
Oregon has three public Recovery High Schools in Salem, Portland, and Lake Oswego that have open enrollment year-round. Recovery High Schools are a safe place for students who choose to receive their high school diploma while accessing daily behavioral health support.
As Oregon recognizes International Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31, Friends for Life reminds us that preventing overdose starts with connection—looking out for one another, checking in, sharing clear information, and offering compassion.
Visit the Friends for Life website to learn more and access resources.