Pain Leading to Purpose: How I Got Introduced to Harm Reduction

Editor's Note: This article discusses overdose and its impacts, which may be distressing for some readers. If you need support, please reach out to a person you trust or crisis resource. You can also get help here.

Naloxone (brand name Narcan), a drug that reverses the effects of opioids in a matter of minutes, saved my life and many of the people I love. I got my start in harm reduction being a volunteer naloxone distributor. How have I gotten here? I need to go back and tell a brief story.

My first time responding to an overdose

It was March of 2018, and I was watching the NCAA tournament in a half-way house. I was using along with 2 other guys in the house. I heard someone come home and went upstairs during the commercial break to see who it was.

That’s when I found my friend on the bathroom floor. He was unconscious, had blue and purple skin, and had the death rattle (a choking or gurgling noise that may indicate someone has overdosed). Now mind you, I had previously overdosed, but I had never responded to an overdose before.

Making a tough decision

My friend had done time in prison, and I wasn’t sure if he was on probation. He was also a gang member along with another guy in the house. I know my experience isn’t unique, but I found myself in a predicament.

My thought process was, "If I call 911, will he go back to prison? Will I get labeled a snitch?" These are all things that run through your mind when you’re involved at some capacity. Obviously, I didn’t want him to die. But my mind was racing, and I was panicking.

After what seemed to be an eternity, I called 911. There was no naloxone in the house, and the 911 dispatcher didn’t advise me to give rescue breaths or CPR. Shortly after, first responders arrived and administered naloxone, and my friend was responsive a few minutes later.

How many didn't get help?

He got checked out at the hospital, and when he returned a few hours later, he was fine. He got to live and spend another 5 years with us before he unfortunately passed away.

Upon reflecting on that night, I couldn’t help but wonder: how many people have been in my position before and didn’t call for help? Or, how many did call, but it was too late because they weren’t able to administer naloxone? Or maybe they didn’t know to give rescue breaths?

Finding my purpose

A month later, I found myself in California and knew I had to do something. I sent emails and cold called anyone and everyone who I thought might be able to help me get naloxone.

I eventually talked to someone who is now my good friend. She connected me to an organization called A New PATH based out of San Diego, and within a month, I was distributing naloxone and providing trainings for individuals and organizations all throughout San Diego.

Some years later, I found myself distributing naloxone at raves, concerts, and book releases and shipping naloxone and fentanyl test strips across the U.S.

For some reason, people feel like there must be this perfect time to get involved, and I’m here to tell you that’s not true. The best time to get involved is right now. This is the perfect time. We all have ways we can make an impact. Small impacts lead to paramount changes.