As the United States continues to grapple with a deadly opioid crisis, Narcan—a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses—has become more accessible. Experts credit this expanded availability as one reason overdose deaths have declined over the past year. But Narcan can only save a life if someone is there to administer it—and that’s not always the case. Many people struggling with substance use disorder use drugs alone, whether out of shame, fear of judgment, or simply because they have no one they can trust. So how do you save lives when one bad dose can be deadly, and the people most at risk are suffering in silence?

A unique hotline called SafeSpot is helping answer that question. The service offers a lifeline—someone to stay on the line while a person uses drugs and calls for help if something goes wrong. On this episode of Grieving Out Loud, you’ll hear from the director of SafeSpot and a woman who says the hotline is the reason she’s still alive today.

Listen to the original hotline call on This American Life: The Call

If you enjoyed this episode, listen to TV Anchors step up with naloxone training to fight the opioid crisis next!

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The Emily’s Hope Substance Use Prevention Curriculum has been carefully designed to address growing concerns surrounding substance use and overdose in our communities. Our curriculum focuses on age-appropriate and evidence-based content that educates children about the risks of substance use while empowering them to make healthy choices. 

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Wishing you faith, hope and courage!

Podcast producers:
Casey Wonnenberg King & Marley Miller