DUBLIN, Ga. — According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 108,000 people in the U.S. died from drug-involved overdoses in 2022.
That's why the state agency, Georgia Overdose Prevention gives out free Narcan kits across the state. According to their website, their kits have helped save 11,327 lives.
One happened recently in Laurens County back in August.
Narcan is one of Nick Campbell's biggest passions, because of his late fiancé, Mary Louise Boutwell.
"Two years of doing great in recovery, she had a slip up one morning, took a single pill, used heroin that night, and didn't breathe again," he said.
That was in 2016, and since then, Campbell made it his mission to get Narcan into as many hands across the state as possible.
"So that what I went through, and what Mary Louis's family went through, what 11,000 other families could've gone through in Georgia, that it doesn't have to happen," he said.
Narcan is easy to use, and works similar to a nasal spray. Nick said even a kindergartener can use it. He also said there's no harm to using Narcan if a person isn't overdosing.
He and his wife run Dublin's Sienna Archae Recovery Kaleidoscope.
They host free Narcan trainings across the state, to get people certified and give out Narcan from Georgia Overdose Prevention to anyone who might need it someday. In July, they held a training at Christian Recovery Centers in East Dublin.
"And hopefully if they have a slip-up, where one day they make a mistake, that it doesn't wind up with a funeral," he said.
Eight days after their training at Christian Recovery Centers, a new client snuck in some fentanyl to an evening church service and overdosed.
Stephen Borders was also a client there, who immediately knew what to do.
"Preacher just started, and we looked over, he fell out," Borders said. "You know, everybody got up hysterical, didn't know. I jumped right into action. Training kicked in."
He said he administered seven rounds of Narcan, and also did CPR on him, which revived him before paramedics even got there.
"Thankful for training it," he said. "I don't look at myself as a hero because of it, but I mean I'm glad I was able to save a boy's life."
He said he recommends people learn how to use Narcan, because you never know.
"It's a scary, dark place out there," Borders said. "And like I said, I keep it in my truck. I have three or four things of it in my door right now, just in case I run across somebody on the streets or anything."
Caroline said their goal is to get Narcan out to the public, because overdoses don't just happen at doctor offices.
"Alcoholism and drug addiction are diseases and we need to treat 'em like a disease, instead of treating it like a moral defect," she said.
If you would like to request the Campbell's to come and do a free Narcan training at your church, business, or other group, you can call 478-274-8986.
September is National Recovery Month, and a Georgia Recovers Bus Tour is crossing the state to celebrate recovery. They'll stop in Dublin this Friday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Market on Madison.
There will be free food, entertainment, and fellowship, and Nick will also be there to do more Narcan trainings.