This International Overdose Awareness Day experts are hoping to reduce the stigma surrounding drug-related death.

Along with making people aware of the risk of accidental overdose of prescription and illegal drugs, it aims to reduce the stigma of drug-related death.

Penington Institute chief executive John Ryan tells Alan Jones many families of overdose victims feel they have to hide the cause of death because of the “stigma and shame related to it”.

“Overdose Awareness Day is really about is really about trying to mourn people who have been lost without any stigma to show respect to the families, but also it’s about preventions and trying to improve community understanding about the risks.”

Click PLAY below to hear the full interview