Public health and harm reduction experts came together in Las Vegas Saturday to mark the global day of spreading overdose awareness and advocating for prevention.

The Southern Nevada Harm Reduction Alliance hosted its 8th Annual International Overdose Awareness Day event, which took place at The Center, a Las Vegas nonprofit organization focused on serving the LGBTQ+ community.

The event marked International Overdose Awareness Day, which is observed yearly on Aug. 31, and was intended to honor those who have been lost to overdose, said Chris Reynolds, president of the Southern Nevada Health Consortium.

Robert Schomer hosted a training session on how to use naloxone, a nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Schomer is the employment program coordinator for Foundation for Recovery, an addiction treatment center in Las Vegas.

“Naloxone is an effective antagonist against any type of opioid,” said Schomer. Naloxone typically comes in the form of a nasal spray that can be administered to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Harm reduction

With naloxone training, the goal is to reduce harm, said Schomer. A strategy that prioritizes harm reduction helps addicts take small steps towards recovery, Schomer explained.

“There’s a difference between quitting cold turkey and harm reduction,” said Schomer, “Harm reduction is acknowledging that you are willing to take steps to mitigate consequences.”

For example, moving from injecting drugs to smoking instead is one of those steps, Schomer said. With injecting, there’s a higher likelihood of overdosing compared to other methods.

Schomer recalled a time where he was running a meeting and one of the attendees overdosed in front of him.

“We never know when we might unintentionally be the first responder in an overdose situation,” Schomer reflected, “Even though I do this training, its still a scary situation to be in.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 79,770 drug overdose deaths in 2022, which is more than the seating capacity of Allegiant Stadium, said Schomer.

“We have trainings every year and there’s always people who’ve been through the trainings that have saved lives because of it,” Reynolds said.

‘Meet them where they’re at’

Reynolds urges people to always carry naloxone because they never know when someone may overdose.

Another aspect of harm reduction is making sure people can use safe needles, said Michele Jorge, the HIV outreach and linkage coordinator for Trac B Exchange.

Trac B Exchange, based in Las Vegas, exchanges dirty needles for clean ones and links people with housing and addiction resources when they’re ready for care.

“It’s all about keeping clients safe and healthy until they’re ready for change. We have to meet them where they’re at,” Jorge elaborated.

Another organization present at the event was the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, where the aim is to normalize the conversation around suicide, said volunteer Dani Eicher.

“The more the conversation is normalized, the more we prevention we can have,” Eicher explained.

“This gives them the opportunity and the space to work through their emotions,” said Eicher. “Sometimes, there’s guilt and shame associated with it, but we have to remind people that they’re not alone.”

If you’re thinking about suicide, or are worried about a loved one or friend, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting the Lifeline network at 988. Live chat is available at 988lifeline.org.

Contact Annie Vong at avong@reviewjournal.com.

The SMU Mustangs started their season by beating Nevada 29- 23. This win showcased the team’s determination to be recognized on the ACC level for college football and continued their 11-3 record from the 2023 season.

“I think they feel like we can be a good team,” Lashee said after Tuesday’s practice. “We’ve got to go prove that we can consistently do it for four quarters.”

The beginning seemed to be a struggle for SMU, who picked up 11 penalties just in the first quarter. Coach Lashlee was not too thrilled with the start of the game.

“There was never any rhythm,” Lashlee said. “We do something; we go one step forward, two steps back.”
Preston Stone, SMU’s starting quarterback, was the right person for the job. The coach plans on playing both QBs, Kevin Jennings and Stone.

“We followed our plan going to the game,” said coach Lashlee. “Preston was going to start go the first two drives; Kevin knew he was going to play the third and fourth series, so that was how we went into the game.”

Stone, who started in 12 games for the 2023 season, threw 3,197 yards passing, giving him the 26th-ranked spot in the NCAA and the fourth-most in the ACC.

Coach Rhett Lashlee trusts Stone to be the starting QB for the Nevada game. He clarified that Stone earned his chance at camp to be the starter for the game against Nevada.

Preston and the team look forward to winning their first at-home game against their next opponents the Houston Christian Huskies on August 31.

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Uber and the Nevada Transportation Authority are teaming up this holiday weekend for a crackdown on fake rideshare drivers, which they say is a big problem in Las Vegas.

“You can get a placard pretty much anywhere… you can parade around as an Uber driver… You will see a lot of them in black SUVs that look just like Uber and Lyft, but they are not licensed,” revealed John Foster, Chief of Enforcement for the Nevada Transportation Authority.

For NTA, stopping illegal rideshare drivers is a matter of public safety. People are being picked up by drivers without background checks or proper insurance. “I have been communicating with all the Strip hotels and Downtown to train them on this problem… There is large groups of individuals that are acting as Uber drivers without permits… That person will ask you if you want a ride or need a ride,” Foster explained.

For the first time, Uber is teaming up directly with a state agency to address this issue.

“It is certainly more noticeable in Las Vegas… because there is so many out-of-towners, so many tourists,” shared Harry Hartfield, Senior Public Affairs Manager for Uber. While the Nevada Transportation Authority regulates 36,000 licensed drivers in the Vegas Valley some aren’t following the rules.

“If 10,000 of those drivers are handing out business cards, it is a big problem. It is a big problem,” Foster contended. Taking a business card from a legitimate rideshare driver for a future off app trip is risky because commercial insurance won’t apply unless a ride is booked through the app. “In Nevada, there is a $1.5 million dollar insurance policy,” Hartfield reported as a representative of Uber.

Any driver caught offering an illegal ride in Nevada will have their vehicle impounded and face a $10,000 fine, something happening more often than you might think. “I would say five a week… It is challenging it’s very, very challenging. We are working with everyone we can to bring this crisis under control,” Foster told FOX5.

The Nevada Transportation Authority has undercover investigators posing as tourists trying to catch illegal rideshare drivers in the act, but the NTA says tips from the public are most important to stop fake Ubers. Report one via this link.

For your safety, every rideshare you take verify the driver’s identity and the plate number on your app before you get inside the vehicle.

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