DEAR EDITOR:

As a senior nursing student and lifelong resident of the Mahoning Valley, I want to express my deep concern over the recent discussions to defund local programs that distribute Narcan (naloxone), the life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. This decision, if left unchallenged, will have profound consequences for our community, especially as we continue to battle the opioid epidemic that has touched nearly every family in our region.

Narcan is not a solution to addiction, but it is a critical tool in saving lives. It gives individuals a second chance — an opportunity to seek treatment, reconnect with loved ones and access long-term recovery resources.

Without it, we risk losing more people to preventable deaths. Reducing access to Narcan sends the wrong message: that some lives are not worth saving, and that harm reduction is not a priority.

As a future nurse and someone who has been personally affected by the devastating impact of addiction, I have seen how effective Narcan is when used quickly and correctly.

Someone very close to me received Narcan during a critical overdose before we ever met. Had it not been available that day, we would never have had the chance to build the relationship we share today. That reality serves as a powerful reminder to me that behind every overdose reversed is a life with potential, and a future still waiting to unfold.

In addition to my academic and clinical training, I have also spent time working at a drug and alcohol treatment center, serving some of the most vulnerable people. Through this work, I have witnessed the courage it takes to seek help, and the resilience required to begin the path to recovery. I have also seen the harmful effects of stigma. It can discourage people from asking for help, make them feel unworthy of care and push them further into isolation. The defunding of Narcan distribution not only removes a vital safety net but also perpetuates this dangerous stigma by implying that overdose victims are not deserving of compassion and support.

These are not just statistics. They are our neighbors, classmates and co-workers. They are parents, partners, children, siblings and friends.

By supporting Narcan availability, we are not enabling drug use. We are affirming that every life matters and that recovery is possible. Cutting funding undermines years of progress and puts more pressure on emergency services, hospitals and families already stretched thin.

I urge local leaders and community members to protect and preserve funding for Narcan distribution programs, recognizing the critical role they play. Health and wellness should not be reserved for a few. They should be accessible to all. Choose compassion over judgment and work toward a healthier Mahoning Valley, together.

VIOLET KOPIAK

Warren