Each week 22 teenagers, equivalent to one high school classroom, die in the U.S. from drug overdose¹. With most overdoses related to opioids, knowing what to do in the event of an opioid overdose can be lifesaving, especially for teens. In response, local resident and pediatric surgeon Dr. Lorraine Kelley-Quon and her team from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and the University of Southern California (USC) are organizing a Narcan Training/Distribution and Prescription Opioid Take Back Event on April 27 at La Cañada High School from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event will provide participants with information about Narcan (Naloxone), an over-the-counter reversal agent for opioid overdose, and training on how to dispense this medication. The first 50 participants will get a free dose of Narcan. Additionally, participants are asked to please bring any leftover prescription opioid medications they may have in their home for safe disposal – no questions asked!

This event is open to the public and is supported by grants from the USC Institute for Addiction Science and the USC Verdugo Hills Hospital.

Friedman J, Hadland SE. The Overdose Crisis among U.S. Adolescents. N Engl J Med. 2024 Jan. 11; 390(2):97-100.