ORLANDO, FL — As the dusk of June 6th descends, from the torrential Niagara Falls to the Long Beach City Hall in sunny California, over 60 iconic landmarks and buildings across the United States will bathe in a dazzling curtain of purple light. This spectacular sight is not a simple light show, but a stark reminder of an ongoing battle against a national drug crisis, marking the commemoration of “National Naloxone Awareness Day.”
The day is an initiative by Victoria’s Voice Foundation, implemented in 2023 with bipartisan congressional backing. Its purpose is to enlighten the public about the life-saving potential of naloxone, a weapon in the fight against fatal drug overdoses. The significance of this tool mired in the grim statistics: in 2023, nearly 110,000 people succumbed to drug overdoses in the U.S., largely fueled by synthetic opioids, including fentanyl.
Naloxone is not just another drug; it is a resuscitation lifeline, capable of restoring normal breathing in a person suffering from an opioid overdose in a matter of minutes. Safe, easy to use, and non-addictive, it can be administered by anyone and harms no one. Unfortunate figures from the National Institutes of Health suggest that nearly 40% of fatal overdoses occur with someone else present, a bystander who could potentially administer naloxone and prevent unnecessary deaths.
“Every day, we lose nearly 300 Americans to drug overdoses. The increasing awareness and availability of naloxone is vital to save as many lives as possible,” stressed Jackie and David Siegel, the founders of Victoria’s Voice Foundation. The couple knows firsthand the devastating effect of opioid overdose; they lost their 18-year-old daughter, Victoria, in 2015. Had the first responders been equipped with naloxone, Victoria may still be alive today.
The foundation’s public health initiative, Get.Give.Save., coincides with National Naloxone Awareness Day and aims to make naloxone accessible and affordable across the country. However, despite being legally available over the counter, the stigma associated with drug use often inhibits its widespread use.
Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Ed Markey (D-MA) were instrumental in introducing the 2023 Federal Resolution to bring this crucial issue into the limelight. Also, U.S. Representatives David Trone (D-MD), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Lisa McClain (R-MI) played essential roles.
The tireless advocacy of David and Jackie Siegel led to the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) being signed into law in July 2016. Their contribution to amplifying the need for naloxone, especially for law enforcement and first responders, cannot be overstated.
Victoria’s Voice has partnered with InnovaScript to offer naloxone at reduced costs on the foundation’s website. Landmarks and buildings wishing to participate in National Naloxone Awareness Day are encouraged to reach out to Victoria’s Voice Foundation.
From the King & Queens Towers in Atlanta to the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy in Boston, America’s iconic places will light up in purple for National Naloxone Awareness Day, reflecting the collective commitment to combat the opioid crisis.
A friendly reminder, as you look at these mesmerizing purple lights, remember the life-saving potential of naloxone. Remember, an act as simple as keeping naloxone handy could change—and save—a life.
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