800-861-9372
Twenty volunteer teams fanned throughout Las Vegas to give away 15,000 doses of naloxone, the medication that reverses opioid overdoses. To be clear, Nevada features a wide range of services to combat addictions, including local Narcotic Anonymous groups. But way too many young people remain at risk. That’s why the group acted. The distribution took …
Groups Distribute 15,000 Naloxone Doses in Southern Nevada
Get Help Now 800-934-1582
Sponsored
Sponsored
Twenty volunteer teams fanned throughout Las Vegas to give away 15,000 doses of naloxone, the medication that reverses opioid overdoses. To be clear, Nevada features a wide range of services to combat addictions, including local Narcotic Anonymous groups. But way too many young people remain at risk.
That’s why the group acted. The distribution took place during National Recovery Month as part of an event called Narcan at Night. It has grown from 40 volunteers to 700+ in its fourth year.
Naloxone & Fentanyl Test Strips Reach Nevadans
Each kit contained test strips for fentanyl and xylazine and a QR code link to a video on how to use them. The point is to give young people a way to check drugs for fentanyl or xylazine and respond quickly if an overdose occurs.
The event focused mostly on college students. At the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, students described a drug supply that feels riskier than it did a few years ago. Most people in Clark County who overdose do so at home, with loved ones and friends usually not too far away.
Sean Karaman, a junior at UNLV, noted he has stayed away from drugs after a childhood friend died of an overdose. Hailey Swenson, a sophomore, set boundaries with the people around her to make it easier to avoid pressure to use.
The Dangers of Laced Pills
The risk extends well beyond Las Vegas. Investigators believe actress Hayden Panettiere died after taking an oxycodone pill that had been laced with fentanyl. The case that has drawn national attention to how counterfeit pills contain a fatal dose with no visible warning.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid far deadlier than morphine and is popping up mixed into pills sold as other prescription drugs. That’s one reason harm reduction groups encourage testing drugs before use rather than assuming a pill is what it appears to be.
Naloxone Works Against Opioid Overdoses
Naloxone is often sold under the brand name Narcan. It blocks opioid receptors in the brain within minutes if given in time. It’s safe to use on someone even if they turn out not to be experiencing an overdose. You can even give multiple doses to reverse a fentanyl overdose.
Signs of an opioid overdose include slowed or stopped breathing, blue-tinged lips or fingertips and unresponsiveness to touch or sound.
Researchers point to greater naloxone access alongside test strips as effective tools to slash overdose deaths. Events like Narcan at Night get both directly into the hands of those who may need them, rather than waiting for a crisis to bring someone into contact with treatment.
People can also use medication-assisted treatments to cut down cravings. Meds aren’t a guaranteed fix on their own, and many folks use prescriptions alongside peer support.
NA Teams Up with Naloxone
Indeed, naloxone and other medications regularly team up with peer support. NA holds free meetings throughout the Las Vegas area and nationwide for anyone who wants to quit drugs.
NA is a major step, but made all the easier with its welcoming atmosphere that judges no one. You can browse our online directory to find NA meetings anywhere in the USA, filtered by location and format.
Feel free to also call our helpline for free, confidential guidance alongside an expert at 800-934-1582(Sponsored) .
the Take-Away