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.
Mojave (Nev.) head football coach Wes Pacheco announced on Sunday morning that he’s stepping down from his position, according to a social media post.
Pacheco announced his resignation after six seasons at the helm of the Rattlers, putting together a 29-22 overall record from 2020-2025.
“I have officially stepped down as Head Coach of the Mojave Football Program,” Pacheco said in his social media post. “Thank you to Principal Cole for giving me the opoortunity make an impact on the lives of Mojave Student-Athletes. I am grateful and blessed to have labored through a 6-year journey of successes, failures, life lessons, character building and growth with the student-athletes myself and my coaching staff have served. I will forever love my Mojave Family, the Mojave Community and believe in the notion that SUCCESS can be attained by showcasing character, treating everyone with respect, and always have the courage to dream big and trust that “ATTACKING THE HARD WORK” & “HIGH MOTORING EVERYTHING” can yield SUCCESS that you want to achieve in life!”
During Pacheco’s half dozen seasons leading Mojave, his best record came in the 2024 season when the Rattlers finished with a 12-1 record. Located out of North Las Vegas, Mojave had to compete against the likes of national high school football powerhouse Bishop Gorman during the regular season.
Mojave ended the last season with a 4-6 record and as the state’s No. 23rd ranked team, according to the final 2025 Nevada High School Football Massey Rankings.
Mojave High School, located in North Las Vegas, NV, is a dynamic public high school that fosters academic excellence, personal growth, and community involvement. Home of the Rattlers, MHS offers a wide range of academic programs, athletics, and extracurricular activities. With a strong commitment to student success, Mojave emphasizes leadership, college and career readiness, and a supportive school culture that prepares students for life beyond graduation.
For Nevada high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Silver State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across Nevada.
A recent Review-Journal letter to the editor mischaracterized Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, also known as the Clark County Lands bill. As the former executive director of the Nevada Conservation League, I wholeheartedly support this legislation, so I wanted to set the record straight.
Sen. Cortez Masto has been working on this bill for years in partnership with state and local governments, conservation groups like the NCL and local area tribes. It’s true that the Clark County lands bill would open 25,000 acres to help Las Vegas grow responsibly, while setting aside 2 million acres for conservation. It would also help create more affordable housing throughout the valley while ensuring our treasured public spaces can be preserved for generations to come.
What is not correct is that the money from these land sales would go to the federal government’s coffers. In fact, the opposite is true.
The 1998 Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act is a landmark bill that identified specific public land for future sale and created a special account ensuring all land sale revenues would come back to Nevada. In accordance with that law 5 percent of revenue from land transfers goes to the state of Nevada for general education purposes, 10 percent goes to the Southern Nevada Water Authority for needed water infrastructure and 85 percent supports conservation and environmental mitigation projects in Southern Nevada. This legislation has provided billions to Clark County and will continue to benefit generations of Southern Nevadans. Sen. Cortez Masto’s lands bill builds upon the act’s success.
So here’s the good news: All of the money generated from land made available for sale under Sen. Cortez Masto’s bill would be sent to the special account created by the 1998 law. Rather than going to an unaccountable federal government, the proceeds would continue to help kids in Vegas get a better education, bolster outdoor recreation and modernize Southern Nevada’s infrastructure.
I know how important it is that money generated from the sale of public land in Nevada stay in the hands of Nevadans, and so does the senator. That’s why she opposed a Republican effort last year to sell off 200,000 acres of land in Clark County and other areas of the country that would have sent those dollars directly to Washington.
Public land management in Nevada should benefit Nevadans. We should protect sacred cultural sites and beloved recreation spaces, responsibly transfer land for affordable housing when needed and ensure our state has the resources it needs to grow sustainably. I will continue working with Sen. Cortez Masto to advocate for legislation, such as the Clark County lands bill, that puts the needs of Nevadans first.
Paul Selberg writes from Las Vegas.
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Las Vegas High’s baseball team claimed a 3-2 home win over Coronado on Friday.
Las Vegas (9-13-1) next hosts Rancho at 10 a.m. Saturday. Coronado (13-14) hosts Chaparral at 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
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