Overdosing is the most immediate preventable life-threatening health issue facing injection drug users today. Every year, overdoses of heroin and opiates, such as Oxycontin, kill more drug users than AIDS, hepatitis or homicide. Still, despite known research and the L.A. data, the problem has received little attention.

What can be done?

While all overdoses cannot be prevented, we can prevent overdose fatalities using currently available methods – overdose prevention information, rescue breathing (CPR) and the antidote, Naloxone. However, many barriers are slowing this effort, including lack of available overdose prevention information, access to Naloxone, and drug users fear of arrest.

The Los Angeles Overdose Prevention Task Force is committed to promoting the widespread utilization of these life-saving methods to prevent or reduce overdose deaths. In order to effectively address challenges and get to the meaningful work of overdose prevention, the Task Force engages policy makers, family members, users and service providers in an effort that educates, advocates and assures the safe utilization of Naloxone-- when and where it can save lives.