Ending fatal overdose in Utah

Author: Hannah Adams

Last year, hundreds of Utahns were lost to fatal overdose, but many lives were also saved. With naloxone and training, anyone can help create a community where no one dies from an overdose.

An overdose happens when someone takes too much of a drug or substance—whether it's medicine, alcohol, or something else—and it overwhelms their body. This can make them very sick, cause them to pass out, stop breathing, or even die if they don't get help quickly.

Overdose has been a public health problem for decades, and it has touched the lives of many individuals, families, and communities.

Preliminary data from the CDC indicate that overdose deaths in the United States went down by 25% from October 2023 to October 2024. However, Utah is not part of the national trend, as it still saw a relative increase in overdose deaths statewide during this period. Estimates show that in the year leading up to June 2024, 693 Utahns died from a fatal overdose–and every one of those deaths was preventable.

Rural counties have the highest rate of fatal opioid overdose. Still, some of Utah's most urban areas, like Salt Lake and Weber-Morgan counties, also lose many people to these avoidable tragedies.

The map on the right uses colors from blue to purple to show which counties have low to high rates of opioid overdoses.

Too many people have lost someone to overdose, but in recent years, more stories are being shared about lives saved by naloxone. Naloxone is a medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose. In this video, Casey tells his personal story about experiencing an overdose that was reversed with naloxone. He refers to Narcan, which is a brand name for nasal naloxone.

Naloxone can give someone a second chance at life, just like it did for Casey. However, this is only possible if people have it and know how to use it. Fortunately, there are many ways to get free naloxone and training in our state.

Utahnaloxone.org has a complete list of locations where Utahns can get free injectable naloxone and a schedule for live virtual training. Stoptheopidemic.utah.gov has a similar resource for people who prefer nasal naloxone, plus online training videos.

Syringe exchange programs are another resource for free naloxone. These programs are designed to help people who use drugs live safer, healthier lives. They are a proven, effective way to get naloxone into the hands of people who need it most.

Utah has 14 syringe exchange programs, which anyone can visit at no cost. Information and locations of all programs are available on the Utah Syringe Exchange Network website.

Whether you live in Cache or Washington County, Utah needs you to be prepared to save a life with naloxone. Find naloxone near you today and learn how to use it in an emergency. Together, we can create communities free from needless overdose deaths.