Reversal Stories.
Drug overdose (poisoning) is the leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United States, causing more deaths than motor vehicle crashes. Opioids – both prescription painkillers and heroin – are responsible for most of those deaths. Naloxone is a medication that works almost immediately to reverse an opioid overdose. Trained and equipped bystanders such as friends, family and other non-health care providers and drug users themselves can effectively respond and reverse an opioid overdose. Given the success of bystander naloxone programs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization have recommended expanding the availability of naloxone to these bystanders. Have you or a loved one overdosed on opioids and used naloxone to successfully reverse the overdose? NVHRC wants to hear from our Northern Valley community to help demonstrate the need for harm reduction services in our region. Share your opioid overdose reversal stories with us below and help us help others! This is about amplifying the stories of people who use drugs, friends, family and other true first responders.