Upstate first responders, addiction treatment centers partner for Free Naloxone Day

GREENVILLE, SC (WSPA) – Officials with the Greenville Fire Department, Phoenix Center and other agencies are kicking off their ‘Free Naloxone Day – Save A Life’ event on Thursday, September 26th at Unity Park from Noon to 2 p.m.

During the two-hour event, they’ll be distributing the overdose-reversing medication Narcan no questions asked. Organizers said they’ll also be educating community members about how to use Narcan and what an overdose looks like.

“One of the cool things about us is as it currently stands, we’re one of the only first responder organizations that have the ability to be a community distributor and pass out Narcan,” said Lieutenant Brian Creswell, an opioid program specialist with the Greenville City Fire Department.

They’ve partnered with Greenville County EMS and other community wellness organizations to promote the efforts. They told 7NEWS there were nearly 220 overdose deaths in Greenville in 2023.

“Get this stuff out in the community so that it’s readily available, because like we said before, overdoses and substance abuse touches everybody in some way,” Creswell also said.

The free naloxone event is presented by the Palmetto Harm Reduction Coalition.

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