Brain Injury Awareness Month

Press Release 2025 for Brain Injury Awareness Month

June 3, 2025

When Overdose Doesn’t Kill – But Still Harms – Ontario Brain Injury Association Raises Alarm

Overlooked Consequences of Overdose & Brain Injury

TORONTO, ON, CA – When a person survives an opioid overdose, the danger may not be over. In fact, the harm may be just beginning.

The Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) is launching a new public awareness campaign during Brain Injury Awareness Month to highlight a little-known consequence of non-fatal overdose: brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation.

“We often associate the opioid crisis with tragic loss of life,” says Ruth Wilcock, Chief Executive Officer of OBIA. “But what’s less visible are the survivors, many of whom are living with brain injuries that can change their lives forever.”

Research suggests that for every one fatality due to overdose, there are approximately 15 non-fatal overdoses¹, many resulting in hypoxic or anoxic brain injuries. These injuries are often invisible and remain undiagnosed, yet they can significantly affect a person’s memory, focus, emotional regulation, and mobility.

Between 2016 and 2021, more than 27,000 opioid poisoning hospitalizations occurred in Canada.² The majority were non-fatal, yet the long-term impact on survivors often goes unnoticed. Many are discharged from hospital care without any assessment or follow-up for possible brain injury.

“A person may survive, but then struggle with attention, impulsivity, or organizing their thoughts,” explains Wilcock. “Without an understanding that these symptoms could be related to brain injury, they may be seen as unmotivated or resistant to treatment, which only adds to the stigma.”

This disconnect is what OBIA’s new campaign seeks to address. The crisis is clear – the injury is hidden. Those who survive an overdose often carry forward lasting and invisible brain injuries, frequently undiagnosed, unsupported, and misunderstood.

Through this campaign OBIA is calling for:

Routine screening for brain injury following a non-fatal overdose
Training for workers in healthcare, addictions, shelters and mental health professionals on how to recognize and respond to overdose-related brain injury
Accessible, trauma-informed supports that consider the cognitive impact of oxygen deprivation

“We need to start connecting the dots,” says Wilcock. “It’s not enough to save a life. We must also support the life that continues after overdose.”

Contact:

Ontario Brain Injury Association
Ruth Wilcock, CEO
Phone: 905-641-8877
Email: rwilcock@obia.on.ca
Website: obia.ca

References:

Casillas, S. M., Pickens, C. M., Tanz, L. J., & Vivolo-Kantor, A. M. (2024). Estimating the ratio of fatal to non-fatal overdoses involving all drugs, all opioids, synthetic opioids, heroin or stimulants, USA, 2010-2020. Injury prevention : Journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention, 30(2), 114–124. https://doi.org/10.1136/ip-2023-045091
Public Health Agency of Canada (2022). Opioid and Stimulant-related Harms in Canada: Hospitalization Trends (January 2016–June 2021). https://health-infobase.canada.ca/substance-related-harms/opioids-stimulants/

Health Canada (2023). Opioid-Related Poisonings and Anoxic Brain Injury: A Descriptive Analysis of Hospitalization Data (2019–2020). https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/opioids/opioid-related-hospitalizations-anoxic-brain-injury.html

Brain Injury Canada (n.d.). Opioid Overdose and Brain Injury. https://braininjurycanada.ca/en/non-traumatic-brain-injury/opioid-overdose/

The Link Between Non-Fatal Overdose & Brain Injury in the OBIA Review Magazine

Brain Injury, Overdose & Substance-Related Cognitive Impairment: What Can We Do When Public Health Crises Collide?
Written by Carolyn Lemsky, Ph.D., C.Psych. ABPP-Cn

Read Full Article

Opioid-Related Poisoning & Anoxic Brain Injury in Canada. View Infographic.

Non-Fatal Overdose & Brain Injury #BIAM2025

Most people know that opioid overdoses can be fatal — but did you know that surviving an overdose can also cause lasting harm?

Even when a life is saved, the brain may suffer from oxygen deprivation, leading to traumatic injuries. These injuries can affect memory, speech, movement, and emotional regulation.

They’re often invisible — but their impact is life-altering.

#BIAM2025 #BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth #OBIACanHelp #OpioidCrisis

Professionals in healthcare, addictions, shelters & mental health: Are you trained to recognize the signs of overdose-related brain injury? Thousands of Canadians are surviving overdoses – but with undiagnosed, life-altering cognitive impacts.

OBIA is advocating for routine screening, trauma-informed care, and professional training to close this critical gap. Support the life after overdose.

#BIAM2025 #BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth #OBIACanHelp #OpioidCrisis

Research suggests that for every one fatality due to overdose, there are approximately 15 non-fatal overdoses¹, many resulting in hypoxic or anoxic brain injuries.
These injuries often go undiagnosed and unsupported, leaving survivors to struggle with memory loss, emotional regulation, and attention.

The Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) is calling for:
✅ Routine brain injury screening after overdose
✅ Training for frontline workers
✅ Accessible, trauma-informed support

Saving a life is just the beginning. Let’s support the life that continues.

#BIAM2025 #BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth #OBIACanHelp #OpioidCrisis

Casillas, S. M., Pickens, C. M., Tanz, L. J., & Vivolo-Kantor, A. M. (2024). Estimating the ratio of fatal to non-fatal overdoses involving all drugs, all opioids, synthetic opioids, heroin or stimulants, USA, 2010-2020. Injury prevention : Journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention, 30(2), 114–124. https://doi.org/10.1136/ip-2023-045091

They survived the overdose.
But now, they’re struggling to remember things.
To focus.
To regulate emotions.

What happened?
Brain injury caused by lack of oxygen during the overdose — a consequence that’s often overlooked.

OBIA is raising awareness this Brain Injury Awareness Month and calling for:
✅Routine screening
✅Professional training
✅Trauma-informed, accessible support

The crisis is clear. The injury is not.
Let’s connect the dots.

#BIAM2025 #BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth #OBIACanHelp #OpioidCrisis

Watch Your Step: Falls Can Happen Anytime, Anywhere to Anyone! Social Media Posts #BIAM2024

Did you know?

Falls are a leading cause of traumatic brain injury in Canada!

#BIAM2024
#BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth
#OBIACanHelp

Did you know?

In children, aged 0-4 years, approximately 70% of mild traumatic brain injuries are caused by falls.

#BIAM2024
#BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth
#OBIACanHelp

Did you know?

Falls are the primary cause of traumatic brain injury among seniors (65+).

#BIAM2024
#BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth
#OBIACanHelp

Did you know?

The most common cause of hospitalization for head injuries are falls.

#BIAM2024
#BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth
#OBIACanHelp

Did you know?

1 in 3 falls result in a head impact, which may cause a traumatic brain injury.

#BIAM2024
#BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth
#OBIACanHelp

Did you know?

About 1 in 4 patients with concussion symptoms from a fall are misdiagnosed in the Emergency Department.

#BIAM2024
#BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth
#OBIACanHelp

Full page flyer - Watch your step

You can download the full page infographic flyer to print here.

Download Flyer

#BIAM2024
#BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth
#OBIACanHelp

Watch your step - BIAM 2024

You can download this Brain Injury Awareness Month flyer here.

Download Flyer

#BIAM2024
#BrainInjuryAwarenessMonth
#OBIACanHelp

In an Instant – Social Media Posts #BIAM2023

Did you know?

The leading causes of anoxic brain injury are oxygen deprivation at birth, stroke, strangulation, choking, drowning, drug overdose, allergic reactions, and sudden blows to the windpipe.

Brain Injury can happen in an instant. Find out more information on our YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DArOq3moP7w&t=7s