A Day of Remembrance at Brighton Station
On Sunday, 31 August 2025, the rear of Brighton Station became the gathering place for an emotional and powerful observance of International Overdose Awareness Day. What should have been a large gathering of families, campaigners, frontline workers, and members of the public coming together to honour lives lost and highlight the urgent need for change, turned out to be a few dozen people. Such a poor turn out for such an important cause.
White roses and purple ribbons, the symbols of overdose awareness, would have normally been placed at the station entrance, but due to a football match, the front of the station could not be used. The names of local people who died from overdoses where not even read out like in other such national events. Commuters and tourists didn’t even pause in respect, underlining how deeply the crisis Brighton and Hove appears to not be on people’s minds.
Brighton’s Ongoing Struggle with Drug-Related Deaths
Brighton and Hove has consistently recorded some of the highest drug-related death rates in the UK. The city has long been at the centre of discussions around substance use, both for its challenges and its efforts in harm reduction.
Promoting Harm Reduction and Awareness
The event was setup not only about remembrance but also about action. Volunteers handed out information on overdose prevention.
A Global Campaign with Local Impact
International Overdose Awareness Day, first held in 2001, is now recognised around the world as the largest campaign to end overdose. It serves as a reminder that behind every statistic is a person with a story and a community left grieving.
Brighton’s event, set against the backdrop of its busy railway station, should have carried symbolic weight. Holding the memorial in such a public location was setup to show a clear message: overdose is not hidden in the shadows, and those lost should never be forgotten.
For some, the moment underscored the purpose of International Overdose Awareness Day: to remember those who have died, to fight against stigma, and to advocate for better responses that can prevent future loss.
One Comment
This was just part of a day of remembrance that included a memorial service at Brighthelm Gardens after the station event. It was well attended and there was a choir, poetry readings, testimonies front line workers, speeches from the Council and a wreath laying ceremony. The flowers (literally hundreds of them) were hand crocheted by groups in the community affected by overdose. All the performers, who created and rehearsed for weeks before, have lived experience in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. It was very moving for a lot of people in our community.