Blue Jays’ Davis Schneider shares brother’s story ahead of International Overdose Awareness Day

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Monday, Aug. 31, was International Overdose Awareness Day, a day dedicated to remembering those lost to overdose, supporting those affected and raising awareness about prevention.

On Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul highlighted a major decline in overdose deaths across New York state, falling by about 45% since 2022, but medical experts and families affected by addiction believe the crisis is far from over.

For Toronto Blue Jays and Buffalo Bisons player Davis Schneider, baseball has given him a platform to speak out on topics that are important to him, and that includes something very personal: opioid overdose awareness.

“My brother was just like any other guy," said Schneider. "Loved to watch sports, loved to hang out with his friends. He was a nurse, so he was helping people every single day. But everyone was kind of dealing with something, and my brother turned to opioids.” 

Schneider, who lost his brother Steven six years ago, said his brother’s death taught him that you can’t always see what someone is struggling with.

“Everyone loved being around him, but he still struggled with mental stuff," said Schneider. "And I feel like reaching out to someone, even if you don't think they're dealing with anything, can go a long way.”

And that’s a lesson DeGraff Medical Park medical director of emergency medicine Dr. Joshua Lynch sees firsthand in the emergency room. Lynch, who lost his own father and brother-in-law to opioid overdose, said the crisis is changing, and the local numbers show some progress.

“We're definitely seeing a change in the opioid epidemic," said Lynch. "We're also, thankfully, seeing both a reduction in fatal and nonfatal opioid overdoses, not only in Erie County, but across New York state.” 

But Lynch said a changing drug supply means doctors can't always rely on assumptions about what an opioid poisoning looks like.

“The drug supply is increasingly unpredictable," said Lynch. "What we might see is someone that has been exposed or using something like kratom. It’s requiring a little bit more attention from the emergency medicine providers.”

And when someone survives an overdose, Lynch said the next steps can be critical.

“Start the patient on medication for opioid use disorder," said Lynch. "And then of equal importance is to get them linked up to a high-quality treatment provider.” 

For Self-Care J.S. Inc. nonprofit founder Janell Santana-Sims, that fight is personal too. Her father died of an overdose five years ago after battling substance abuse for much of his life — and this motivated her to take action. 

“I decided to develop an organization that is all about harm reduction," said Santana-Sims. "We are boots to the ground, and I'm giving them Narcan.”

And as she pushes to make a difference in her community, she said her own family has experienced just how important Narcan, a brand name for naloxone, which can reverse the effects of an overdose, can be.

“My little sister, she overdosed in front of her children, and they had to Narcan her twice," said Santana-Sims. "Have it everywhere you go because you never know who you're going to find who is overdosing right in front of your eyes, and you can save their life.” 

For Schneider, that’s the message he hopes people remember, not just on International Overdose Awareness Day, but every day.

“You’re never out of the fight," said Schneider. "People can come together and make sure another person doesn't have to experience that by being prepared with Narcan. I feel like that's all that really matters.”

Lynch also said if someone is experiencing an opioid emergency, people shouldn’t wait to figure out exactly what substance they took before acting. Instead, he said if someone is unconscious or not breathing normally, call 911, administer naloxone if available and follow the emergency instructions you're given.