Deschutes County Health Services, in partnership with Almadorada coffee shop, will host a pop-up naloxone distribution event on Thursday, September 24, from noon to 3pm at Almadorada, 180 NW Oregon Ave. in Bend.
The pop-up is part of Save A Life Day, a nationwide day of action that helps people recognize and reverse opioid overdoses. Community members can pick up free naloxone during the event.
“Save a Life Day is a chance for people to learn simple steps that could save someone’s life,” said Ana Woodburn, Deschutes County Health Services’ overdose prevention and response strategist. ”This event is another way for Health Services to reach people in the community and give them the tools they need to respond to an overdose.”
In January 2025, Health Services launched a local campaign to address opioid overdoses in Deschutes County. The Friends for Life campaign encourages people to carry naloxone, recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and act quickly in an emergency.
Through the campaign website, ads and local training events, community members can find clear information about fentanyl and other opioids. They can also learn simple, lifesaving steps to take during an overdose. The campaign is modeled after the original Friends for Life campaign created by the Washington State Health Care Authority.
Local data show encouraging trends in Deschutes County since the campaign launch. According to the Oregon Health Authority, emergency department visits for nonfatal opioid overdoses in Deschutes County fell from 56.08 per 100,000 people in 2023 to 33.32 per 100,000 people in 2025. The share of suspected overdose deaths involving fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid, also fell from 66 percent in 2024 to 35 percent in 2025.
State and national data also show a decline in drug overdose deaths, including deaths involving opioids.
Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, is a safe medicine that can reverse an overdose and restore breathing when it is given quickly. In most cases, naloxone starts working right away, but if a person does not respond within two or three minutes, they can be given another dose.
Naloxone is the first step in responding to an overdose, but it is not the only step.
If you believe someone is experiencing an overdose, always call 9-1-1 and stay with them until help arrives. Naloxone can wear off within 30 to 90 minutes, and the person may begin overdosing again without medical care. Naloxone is simple to use, safe and legal for anyone to carry in Oregon.
