Augusta University uses grants to fight overdose across the city

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta University is partnering with Open Arms Outreach to place lifesaving materials throughout downtown Augusta using a $66,000 grant from State opioid settlement money.

Nicoll Gentry knows the importance of a second chance at life. The co-founder of Open Arms Outreach has been sober for three years after someone used Narcan to save her life during an overdose.

“I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for Narcan,” Gentry said.

She co-founded Open Arms Outreach to help people struggling with addiction. The organization provides resources without judgment for those battling drug addiction.

“My life today is something I could have never even prayed for. I wouldn’t have known to pray for it,” Gentry said. “We are allowing them the open door to know, hey, there’s a resource out there that I can reach out to that didn’t judge me, that helped me stay alive.”

Two state grants totaling $66,000 will allow Augusta University to place lifesaving materials in 40 downtown businesses, 10 vape shops and 25 buildings across all five of its campuses.

They have 20 on the Summerville campus already.

The goal is to have help at every street corner, with Narcan and test strips in bars and restaurants downtown, so no one is ever more than a few doors away from lifesaving help.

Dr. Aaron Johnson, director of the Institute of Public and Preventive Health at Augusta University, said the Augusta area had a real need for something that would save a life immediately.

“Public health by definition is community facing, and so we want to have a presence and a partnership with people throughout the community,” Johnson said.

The Richmond County Coroner’s Office reported 76 drug deaths in 2025, with 37 related to opioids. The county is among the highest in the state for drug-related deaths.

“It normalizes the fact that it’s okay to help somebody overdosing. It’s okay to help save somebody’s life,” she said. “I get to be a mother today to my almost 21-year-old daughter. She can count on me to do things. I wasn’t the best of the community, but I give back every day to make up for that.”

Dr. Johnson said they had their first meeting to discuss next steps and reaching out to businesses to start placing the boxes downtown.

Open Arms Outreach will refill the boxes once they’re installed and continue training people across Augusta to help save lives when there’s an opportunity in front of them.

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