LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Thousands of overdose prevention supplies are being distributed across the Las Vegas Valley this year, especially during the weekend of the Electric Daisy Carnival when hundreds of thousands of people are in town.
In 2023, the Las Vegas Valley saw a record number of deadly fentanyl overdoses with 361 people.
Harm Reduction Circle heads to music festivals across the country and offers thousands of doses naloxone, fentanyl test strips and other supplies. Attendees of EDC can ask volunteers for supplies and instructions on how to use Narcan or test strips.
“I like to compare it with CPR. 51% of Americans have been trained on CPR at some point in their life. You learn CPR to facilitate the people around you. Same thing with carrying Naloxone,” said founder Annastasia Rose Beal.
“Harm reduction is even more important this year than ever. We’ve seen more than 140,000 overdoses this year in the US. And it’s not just impacting opiate users. It’s impacting non opiate users, people that are doing party drugs like cocaine and ecstasy, and buying fake pressed pills. Attendees might find a dealer on the street or wherever they got their substances from. Now there’s fentanyl in it and they had no idea,” Beal said.
The Southern Nevada Health District is tracking and monitoring locations of overdoses and deaths, and will distribute harm reduction supplies and kits to people on the streets or partner organizations.
“Fentanyl is primarily driving our overdoses or fatal overdoses in Clark County. We’re also seeing an alarming trend of fentanyl being adulterated into stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine. That suggests that there are people who are using fentanyl who don’t know that that’s what’s in their supply. There’s an ever-evolving illicit drug supply,” said Jessica Johnson, a SNHD health education supervisor.
Through more funding, SNHD was able to ramp up its Narcan distribution and gave out 11,000 doses in January alone. Distribution happens through partner organizations or even through handing out supplies to people on the streets.
Harm Reduction Circle will be in the Valley all EDC weekend. You can contact them at 949-659-8180 or via direct message on Instagram.
Copyright 2024 KVVU. All rights reserved.
