San Diego-based Shoreline Recovery Center Encourages Compassionate Support for those Struggling with Addiction

From Overdose Awareness to Recovery

San Diego, CA., Sept. 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Overdose is a common and serious risk for individuals with a substance use disorder. It is also preventable, with the simple act of compassion saving a life.

Each year, communities across the country observe August as Overdose Awareness Month to remember the lives that were taken by addiction and to support those still struggling with recovery.

Each day, the staff at San Diego-based Shoreline Recovery Center emphasize the importance of overdose prevention through education, early intervention and stigma reduction when it comes to substance use disorders.

Around 70,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2025, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As a leading treatment center for substance abuse and mental health in Southern California, Shoreline Recovery Center staff maintain that the best way to prevent drug overdose is to reduce exposure, prevent misuse when exposed and treat drug use disorder immediately when it occurs.

“An overdose is more than just a statistic or headline, it represents a person, their loved ones and a community’s profound loss,” said Shoreline Recovery Center Clinical Director Mike Gallagher. “Bringing awareness to it creates an opportunity to replace stigma with understanding and remind people that treatment and recovery are possible.”

Symptoms of drug overdose aren’t always obvious and not everyone may realize it’s happening when it occurs, especially when the person experiencing it is heavily under the influence.

Understanding what overdose-reversal medication, including naloxone, is and how to use it can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose and save a person’s life. An integral part of a person’s recovery journey is the community. San Diego addiction therapy is a keystone service by Shoreline Recovery Center.

“It’s about shared experiences and learning from one another,” said Shoreline Recovery Center therapist Max Kubota. “People need to know that reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not failure. Recovery can begin at any point.”

One part of the solution to ending overdose is ending the stigma associated with addiction and education is part of that awareness. Despite an individual’s desire to get sober, asking for help can be difficult when faced with deeply rooted shame, fear or stigma.

“What people don’t realize is that simply talking about overdose could save a life,” Kubota said. “Understanding addiction itself, the triggers that lead to it and how to navigate them in recovery is crucial in learning how to handle them.”

One of the biggest steps in preventing overdose is understanding that substance use disorders are treatable health conditions and that recognizing warning signs and seeking professional help early on can make a big difference. Families and friends play an important role simply by approaching loved ones with compassion.

“By increasing awareness, reducing stigma and having honest conversations about substance use, communities can help prevent overdose deaths while supporting opportunities for recovery,” Kubota said.

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