In 2022 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certainly that certain naloxone products, including Narcan, which can reverse the effects of opioids, typically in cases of overdose, are safe enough to potentially be sold over-the-counter.

As the overdose crisis continues to cause immense harm to families and communities across the country, the Pennsylvania Department of Health is expanding its advertising campaign to use real-world testimonials to promote naloxone as an effective harm reduction strategy.

About the campaign

The campaign, which features real-life stories, will run through August 2023 after 5,347 Pennsylvanians died from drug overdoses in 2021. Per a press release. The advertising campaign features stories from five people whose lives have been impacted by drug use and underscores the importance of sourcing naloxone.

dr Debra Bogen, Acting Secretary of Health, stressed that anyone can potentially save a life by administering naloxone to a person suffering from an opioid overdose. She urged Pennsylvanians to do so purchase naloxone from various sources such as pharmacies, community giveaways or through the mail and find out about the administration. “You never know when you might save the life of a strange neighbor, friend or family member.”

The campaign materials were created in partnership with Vital Strategies, a global health organization that believes everyone should be protected by a strong public health system. According to Daliah Heller, VP for Drug Use Initiatives at Vital Strategies, the US overdose crisis is preventable and the availability of naloxone is an effective approach to curbing deaths.

“This Department of Health campaign is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Overdose Data to Action Collaborative Agreement and will run on television and radio stations (…) and digital ads,” the press release said.

The campaign, which is expected to have over 76 million impressions, is in line with recent…