Black Balloon Day: Honoring Lives Lost to Overdose
March 6th marks Black Balloon Day, a day of remembrance for those we’ve lost to overdose and substance use disorder. For many, this is more than just a date on the calendar—it is a day filled with deep grief, reflection, and a call to action.
For Save Our Families’ founder, Kristy F. Steele, Black Balloon Day is profoundly personal. She lost her mother, Nita S. Steele, to an overdose—an experience that shaped her mission to advocate for harm reduction, support families, and fight for low-barrier access to life-saving resources.
Each black balloon displayed today represents a person, a story, a life that was cut short too soon. Behind every statistic is a mother, father, sibling, child, or friend who deserved more time.
The Overdose Crisis: Why This Day Matters
Overdose remains a public health emergency, and the numbers speak for themselves:
- In 2023, over 107,000 people in the U.S. died from overdose.
- Fentanyl and synthetic opioids continue to drive overdose deaths.
- Many overdoses are preventable with harm reduction strategies and increased access to treatment.
Despite the staggering numbers, stigma and systemic barriers still prevent people from getting the help they need. Black Balloon Day is both a moment of remembrance and a demand for change.
Harm Reduction Saves Lives
At Save Our Families, we do not judge, we do not shame—we support. Harm reduction is about meeting people where they are and providing them with the tools they need to stay safe and stay alive.
Some of the most effective harm reduction strategies include:
- Carrying Naloxone (Narcan): This life-saving medication reverses opioid overdoses.
- Fentanyl Test Strips: Help prevent accidental overdoses.
- Safe Use Education: Teaching people how to reduce their risk.
- Low-Barrier Access to Treatment: Making sure people can get help without unnecessary obstacles.
No one should have to fight for their survival alone.
How You Can Participate in Black Balloon Day
🖤 Hang a Black Balloon outside your home or workplace in remembrance.
📢 Share Stories & Break the Stigma – Addiction is not a moral failure, it’s a public health issue.
💜 Carry Naloxone & Learn How to Use It – Be prepared to save a life.
🤝 Advocate for Change – Demand policies that support harm reduction and accessible treatment.
❤️ Check In on Loved Ones – Let them know they are not alone.
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Created by the team at Save Our Families.
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