July was a sizzling month for music in Denver with occasions just like the World Dance Competition, Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, and the Underground Music Showcase taking middle stage. However it additionally noticed a severe effort by mega-music promoter AEG Presents to forestall drug overdoses at concert events.
Since June, AEG has helped distribute 1000’s of free doses of the anti-overdose drug Naloxone as a part of its partnership with the Hold the Social gathering Protected, a UC Well being-sponsored marketing campaign geared toward educating folks about overdose prevention.
The marketing campaign gave away 1,100 fentanyl check strips and 1,800 Naloxone doses throughout the July 28-30 Underground Music Showcase, a spokeswoman stated Tuesday. The weekend earlier than that, it distributed a whopping 2,000 doses of Naloxone throughout the World Dance Competition at Empower Discipline at Mile Excessive. All informed, Hold the Social gathering Protected has doled out 4,600 doses of Naloxone because the starting of June, primarily outdoors of AEG-booked or -owned venues, together with Fiddler’s Inexperienced Amphitheatre; the Ogden, Bluebird and Gothic theaters; FirstBank Middle; Mission Ballroom; and Civic Middle Park Live performance Collection.
The partnership between the 2 organizations was first introduced on Nationwide Fentanyl Consciousness Day, Could 9, and can proceed by way of April 2024, in keeping with UC Well being. It has the potential to succeed in 1.2 million concertgoers throughout numerous venues and exhibits, AEG stated.
“We’re feeling extra urgency in our companions,” stated Michael Davidson, spokesman for the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, the marketing campaign’s mother or father group, including that there are teams nationwide that distribute at festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo and Electrical Daisy Carnival, and DanceSafe, which focuses on the EDM world.
“However that is an concept that is sensible for Denver proper now,” he added.
“Hold The Social gathering Protected is focused to those that may not know they’re weak and may not find out about methods to remain secure, like having naloxone to reverse overdoses or selecting a delegated non-user,” stated Robert Valuck, govt director of the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention, within the assertion.
Colorado’s overdose loss of life charges stabilized in 2022, however stay close to file ranges, JHB has reported, with almost 1,800 deaths final yr.
Naloxone — identified in its nasal spray type as Narcan — has been proven to assist quickly reverse opioid overdoses, equivalent to these from different occasion medicine which might be spiked with or primarily product of the highly effective fentanyl, by blocking opiate receptors within the nervous system. Fentanyl is as much as 50 instances stronger than heroin and 100 instances stronger than morphine, and greater than 150 folks die every single day from overdoses associated to artificial opioids, in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management.
“We’ve one of many stronger campaigns within the nation by way of public consciousness,” Davidson stated. “We’ve been capable of promote in locations and attain audiences resulting from our companions, which aren’t solely issues like The UMS but in addition Mile Excessive Behavioral Well being Middle and the Denver Division of Public Well being.”
At most exhibits and festivals, Hold the Social gathering Protected units up a desk and presents doses of Naloxone, but in addition instructional supplies, posters, “break glass in case of emergency”-style overdose kits (which might be semi-permanent to the venue) and overdose coaching for AEG workers.
Hold The Social gathering Protected was launched in 2022 by the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention. For extra tips about stopping and treating overdoses, go to keepthepartysafe.org.
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