Volunteers work to forestall fentanyl overdoses at music festivals

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – As When We Have been Younger kicks off its second weekend in Las Vegas, volunteers might be there to assist hold music festivalgoers secure from fentanyl.

Volunteers might be handing out fentanyl check strips and Narcan among the many crowds and might be on standby in case anybody wants support.

Nevada health officials have reported a surge in emergency room visits, overdoses and deaths from fentanyl, and are working to tell the general public about assets to detect the substance and acquire Narcan to avoid wasting a life.

“If it prevents even perhaps one overdose, then it’s greater than value it,” stated volunteer Lily Wilson Rogers, who coordinates efforts in Nevada for Hurt Discount Circle.

“Individuals are fascinated by having a superb time. They’re enthusiastic about the entire enjoyable. You’re targeted on residing within the second. You’re not fascinated by something that might go improper,” Wilson Rogers stated, who has witnessed an overdose, and now vowed to at all times be ready.

Well being officers, together with volunteers from numerous hurt discount teams, have been working to coach the general public concerning the presence of fentanyl in a wide range of medication, from cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, road capsules and celebration medication similar to MDMA.

“I began this [organization] as a result of I used to be simply uninterested in seeing individuals exit and try to have a superb time– and now their finest buddy handed away as a result of they simply didn’t carry Narcan or didn’t check the substance,” stated founder Anastasia Rose Beal. Hurt Discount Circle has been to greater than 50 music festivals because it was based in 2020 when fentanyl began to creep into celebration medication on the West Coast.

Volunteers might be carrying black shirts with a pink brand that states, “Hurt Discount Circle.” Anybody who wants strips or Narcan can contact volunteers earlier than the competition. Hurt Discount Circle might be reached by way of cellphone name or textual content at (949) 659-8180.

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