LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Aug. 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day, and Las Vegas organizations are taking part. A resource fair took place at the LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada on Saturday, educating neighbors on the mission to end overdoses.
692 Clark County residents lost their lives to drug overdoses in 2023, according to the Southern Nevada Health District. That number has been steadily increasing since 2020. Advocates like Chris Reynolds, a planner of the resource fair, are hoping events like Saturday’s can stop it.
“Those are people that we have all lost in our lives. And it’s important to understand that grief of losing that person and how to honor their existence by continuing this fight to end overdoses,” Reynolds said.
One of the main topics of today’s event was the practice of Harm Reduction, which recognizes that the journey to sobriety can be long and difficult. Harm Reduction focuses on reducing the additional dangers that come with drug use. Chris Morris, Linkage Coordinator for Trac-B are dedicated to the practice.
“We hand out clean syringes, we take in dirty syringes off the streets. That helps lower the spread of HIV and hepatitis. We help with wound care. We do Narcan training,” Morris said.
Narcan training was also part of the event. The spray is small, and keeping it in your bag or pocket can help save a life as Narcan revives those suffering from an opioid overdose. Morris has used it in the past and also had it used on him. He’s 16 months sober and is helping those battling addiction.
“People are overdosing everywhere. In schools, on the streets, at work, at home, so everybody should have Narcan and know how to use it,” Morris said.
Morris’ organization, Trac-B, is one of many across the valley providing free Narcan and training. You can contact them here.
