Capitol Hill workers received free samples of the lifesaving drug naloxone as the deadly fentanyl epidemic continues to hit Washington DC particularly hard.
Naloxone is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug designed to quickly reverse opioid overdoses.
Voices for Awareness, a nonprofit fentanyl awareness organization, set up a table in a Senate office building this week to distribute the lifesaving drugs for free to federal workers.
The group aims to erase the ‘stigma’ surrounding administering life-saving treatment to someone suffering from an overdose.
In 2023, there were 404 fentanyl-related opioid deaths in DC, according to a recent city report. Fentanyl was involved in 95 percent of deaths.
The year before, there were more than 460 overdose deaths in Washington, with 93 percent of these deaths involving fentanyl.
“We were able to distribute more than 600 doses of Naloxone to Senate staff,” Andrea Thomas, founder of Voices for Awareness, told DailyMail.com in a statement.
One employee, Caty Payette, posted on X that free naloxone kits were being distributed Thursday
Voices for Awareness set up a table in a Senate office building to distribute naloxone, an opioid overdose drug, to employees as overdose deaths remain historically high
Homelessness in the capital increased by 18 percent between 2022 and 2023, according to city data
A container of Narcan, a brand-name version of the overdose-reversing opioid drug naloxone
“By distributing naloxone on the Hill, we feel like we’ve broken a barrier to understanding how we can reduce stigma and save lives,” Thomas said. ‘
“It was great to see people ‘getting it’ and understanding how one small action can save a life,” he continued.
Thomas’ daughter, Ashley Romero, died after taking half of a counterfeit pill. Shortly afterwards she started Voices for Awareness.
“There has never been a time like this in America. It’s a time when a drug is so dangerous that it kills every demographic group, and no group is immune. We all need to sit down here and work on solutions,” Thomas told DailyMail.com.
Some Capitol Hill staffers expressed their connection to the deadly drug, with some sharing heartfelt personal stories.
‘My cousin died of a drug overdose in 2018’ one employee posted on X. “I want to wear this.”
Another employee placed on X: ‘My brother, 18 months younger, lost the battle against addiction in 2011. It’s a painful subject that I don’t talk about often.’
“Buy the free nalaxone and keep it. It costs you nothing and can prevent a sister from having to call her parents to tell them their son is dead.’
Administering naloxone to someone experiencing an overdose can save their life
Between August 2022 and August 2023, more than 106,000 Americans died from an overdose. according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Over that same period, overdose deaths in Washington, DC, increased by 15 percent.
Homelessness in DC increased by 18 percent between 2022 and 2023. according to city data.
“The interest in fentanyl and naloxone has been off the charts,” Thomas told DailyMail.com. “The Hill has sucked up education and can use this training day as a gateway to solutions for lawmakers.”
“By distributing free naloxone at our fentanyl education events, we are raising awareness of the lifesaving potential of this antidote and empowering people to respond effectively to a potential opioid overdose.”
“It also sends a powerful message about the importance of community outreach, which helps break stigma and encourages open conversations about substance abuse,” Thomas added. ‘It’s a proactive approach.’