Narcan Saves Lives—Let’s End the Stigma Before It Costs More

Imagine finding out that the medication sitting in your purse or glove box could be the difference between life and death, not just for someone on the street, but for your neighbor, coworker, or even a family member.

That’s what Narcan (also known as naloxone) is. It’s a life-saving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose in just minutes. It has been around for decades and is FDA-approved, as well as recommended by public health officials worldwide. Despite this, Narcan still comes with a heavy dose of stigma, and that stigma is putting lives at risk.

Let’s get one thing straight: Narcan isn’t only for people who use illicit drugs. It’s for anyone who might experience an opioid overdose, which includes:

• People recovering from surgery and prescribed painkillers
• Seniors who accidentally take an extra dose of medication
• Teens experimenting with pills they believe are safe
• Veterans and first responders managing trauma and pain

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 112,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2023, with over 75% of those deaths involving opioids. This isn’t a fringe issue. It’s happening in suburbs, small towns, cities, and communities just like ours.

Here’s another hard truth: fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that’s up to 50 times stronger than heroin, is being found in substances like cocaine, counterfeit pills, and even marijuana. People are dying from drugs they didn’t know were laced with opioids. Many don’t even identify as someone with a substance use disorder.

And still, when you mention Narcan, people often recoil. “I don’t want that in my house,” they say. “I’m not an addict.” But would you say the same about a fire extinguisher? Or an EpiPen? Narcan is an emergency medicine. It doesn’t judge who you are or how you got there—it just saves your life.

Even more alarming is the number of accidental opioid poisonings among older adults. As people age, they often juggle multiple medications. A double dose of prescribed opioids can slow or stop breathing. Narcan can bring them back within minutes—if someone has it and knows how to use it.

The Surgeon General of the United States has recommended that all Americans carry naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Not because we expect to need it, but because we know that someone will. Up to 40% of fatal overdoses happen with another person present, meaning a life could have been saved—if someone had Narcan nearby.

We need to normalize Narcan. We need to have it in our homes, schools, and workplaces. We need to understand that carrying Narcan doesn’t make you a user, it makes you prepared.

Here in the Lowcountry, organizations like WakeUp Carolina are stepping up. They provide free Narcan kits, training, and education to individuals, families, schools, and businesses. Their mission is rooted in compassion—not judgment—and their impact is saving lives.

WakeUp Carolina is a Recovery Community Organization based in Mount Pleasant and Moncks Corner, SC, serving families, youth, veterans, and individuals impacted by substance use. They believe in harm reduction, education, and meeting people where they are.

If you’d like to receive training or request Narcan for yourself, your family, or your workplace, please call WakeUp Carolina.

No one plans to overdose. But anyone can save a life. Let’s end the stigma around Narcan—because carrying it doesn’t mean you’re expecting the worst. It means you’re ready to offer someone their best chance at staying alive.

And that’s something we can all stand behind.