(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Among the thousands of people going to Lollapalooza next week are volunteers ready to train music fans about reversing an opioid overdose.
The Columbus, Ohio-based non-profit This Must Be the Place has been giving out free Naloxone for more than a year at music festivals.
“We reach people who this is a brand-new concept to them – jumping in and reversing an overdose,” says William Perry, the organization’s director.
Doses of the Kloxxado brand the group uses are twice as large as Narcan. They’ve heard from people who appreciate not having to wait before giving more to someone overdosing, he said.
They will be giving away the nasal spray for free in an effort to make it accessible.
“We did Burning Man last year – people weren’t even wearing clothes,” Perry said, referring to the communal festival held in northwestern Nevada. “We put it on a lanyard, so they have no reason not to take it.”
During Lollapalooza, the certified chemical dependency counselor says, he and his volunteers will provide a safe space to answer questions about fentanyl.
“It’s just like having a Band-Aid onsite, you know? A fire extinguisher," Perry said of the approach. "You don’t know what’s going to happen, but you want to be prepared for every possible scenario.”
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