Saving Lives Together: Compassion, Conversation, and Overdose Response

Conversations about substance use can feel uncomfortable and are often laden with stigma. This talk explores how anyone can engage someone about their substance use using a harm reduction approach: one that prioritizes safety, dignity, and trust over judgment or abstinence-only messaging. We'll cover practical communication tools, how to ask non-stigmatizing language, and why meeting people where they are — not where we want them to be — leads to better outcomes. No medical background required; just an open mind.

Opioid overdoses are happening in every community — and bystanders are often the first on the scene. This talk gives you the practical knowledge to act. We'll cover how to recognize an opioid overdose, when and how to use naloxone, and what to do while waiting for help to arrive. Naloxone is safe, legal, and increasingly available without a prescription. You don't need to be a medical professional to save a life — you just need to know how.