LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Las Vegas Valley nonprofit Shine A Light has worked to assemble 10,0000 Narcan Kits.
Narcan, also known as Naloxone, can reverse an opioid overdose. Narcan is sprayed into someone’s nose.
“Narcan can save lives. It does save lives,” said Robert Banghart, vice president of community engagement for Shine A Light. “The first time I was dead. I turned purple. And that was one of 15 times I was Narcaned.”
Many community partners have helped put the Narcan kits together. The kits will be handed out throughout the valley, for free, during “Narcan at Night” on Sept. 27. The timing of the event comes as the Southern Nevada Health District provided overdose deaths data to FOX5.
The data shows opioid overdose deaths in Clark County have increased since 2022. According to SNHD, there were 380 overdose deaths, from all opioids, in 2020, and 364 deaths in 2021. Overdose deaths dipped to 357 in 2022 but then rose in 2023 to 470. Overdose deaths then jumped to 541 in 2024.
SNHD data shows a substantial number of opioid overdose deaths in 2024 came from fentanyl. Of the 541 deaths, 454 were from fentanyl. Ninety deaths that year came from “Natural and Semi-Synthetic Opioids.” And 26 of the overdose deaths in 2024 were from Heroin.
So far in 2025, 233 people in Clark County have died from an opioid overdose. The health district says 199 of those were from Fentanyl. 2025 data is preliminary.
Along with Narcan, people are putting test strips in the kits. The strips can determine if a pill or powder contains Fentanyl or Xylazine. Anyone who sees a positive test for either is urged not to consume the pill or powder.
Shine A Light wants people to know it’s not just homeless addicts who may need the life-saving drug. It could be anyone who takes a pill or powder, for example, a high school student at a party.
The group says anyone who is around someone at risk of overdosing is encouraged to always have Narcan with them. Shine A Light also says anyone using Narcan on someone should first call 911 to get help moving right away.
Hundreds of people will be giving out the Narcan kits on Sept. 27. The kits are also available at Shine A Light.
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