TIANA VAZQUEZ: First we call for help, right?

And then we administer one dose.

ADRIENNE HOAR McGIBBON: Tiana Vazquez is teaching a workshop on how to administer naloxone.

TIANA VAZQUEZ: You place it into the nose, and then we do one firm push.

You're going to hear the click, it will dispense wait a sec, and then we take it out.

ADRIENNE HOAR McGIBBON: She's the education specialist for a program called REVIVE!.

It's run through the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

TIANA VAZQUEZ: REVIVE!

is meant to educate those on what an opioid overdose looks like, how to use naloxone, how to administer it, and also education behind overdoses itself, specifically opioids.

But my goal, personally, is for- to help break the stigma.

ADRIENNE HOAR McGIBBON: Vazquez says the more we talk about opioids, the better equipped we are to handle their potentially deadly impacts.

REVIVE!

is part of a statewide educational effort to address record high opioid overdose deaths.

In 2021, 2,229 Virginians died from opiates like fentanyl, heroin and counterfeit prescription drugs.

TIANA VAZQUEZ: It's more than just REVIVE!, right?

It's more than just opioid overdose education.

It's building conversations, its building relationships.

ADIRENNE HOAR McGIBBON: Vazquez says she and her team of more than 800 trainers have reached thousands of Virginians at workshops like this across the state, and their efforts may be paying off.

The Virginia Department of Health released preliminary numbers for the first half of the year, showing a 30% decrease in opioid overdose deaths since 2021.

Christopher Holstege directs UVA Health's Blue Ridge Poison Center.

CHRISTOPHER HOLSTEGE: We're seeing a slight drop from the emergency departments too now, is hopeful.

ADRIENNE HOAR McGIBBON: Holstege says a combination of prevention efforts are having an impact.

CHRISTOPHER HOLSTEGE: Federal governments been working on this.

State governments have been working on this.

The DEA has been working night and day on this.

The health department has been in regards to prevention efforts.

There's great people doing work with REVIVE!

training for naloxone out there.

And so, there's a whole host of efforts that have been done and then it's a question of which ones do we think are the most effective right now?

ADRIENNE HOAR McGIBBON: He warns it's important to be cautious about administering naloxone, and recommends it only be used when a person isn't breathing.

CHRISTOPHER HOLSTEGE: But if they're breathing fine, please be careful on that because you may actually do harm.

You're going to find someone really combative, or you may put them into withdrawal, which is a really miserable experience for those patients.

ADIRENNE HOAR McGIBBON: And Vazquez says administering naloxone is just one part of addressing opioid use.

TIANA VAZQUEZ: We teach, “Hey, you can save a life.

But now what?” Right?

So, what's important to get away with REVIVE!

is that is not a one stop shop.

We have to keep searching for more help after that.

ADRIENNE HOAR McGIBBON: Adrienne Hoar McGibbon, VPM News.