The government of Pennsylvania is giving out free Naloxone in nearly 80 locations statewide. The idea is to reduce opioid overdose deaths by turning members of the public into first responders as well.

Free Naloxone

As a part of Stop Overdoses in Pa: Get Help Now Week, the government of Pennsylvania will be giving out free Naloxone to members of the public on Dec. 13 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The distribution will primarily be at county/municipal health departments and health centers. The distribution is a part of the state’s efforts to reduce opioid overdose deaths in the state.

“We want to ensure that through this opportunity for free naloxone, we can save more lives and get more Pennsylvanians into treatment. Keeping naloxone in your home, work or even in your car can make the difference between someone getting into treatment or dying from this disease,” said Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf in a statement.

There is no need to set an appointment to get free Naloxone on Dec. 13. The list of locations in which they will distributed can be found in the Pennsylvania government’s website.

Opioid Crisis In Pennsylvania

The opioid crisis affects everyone from all walks of life, regardless of race and social standing. In Pennsylvania, at least 10 people die of a drug overdose every day. In fact, in 2015 alone, there were over 3,500 overdose deaths.

According to Secretary of Drug and Alcohol, Jen Smith, a common misconception about the people with substance abuse disorders is that they want to die when in truth, most overdose deaths are accidental.

In this regard, Naloxone is a very important tool in preventing even more opioid overdose deaths. In fact, since November of 2014, over 20,000 people have been revived by EMS providers in the state. By arming members of the pubic with Naloxone, Pennsylvanians have the opportunity to become first responders themselves and potentially save the life of someone who has overdosed.