Volunteers will be offering free training and supplies in Berkeley Springs on Thursday, September 25 to reduce overdose deaths.
The event, called Save a Life Day, is part of a nationwide effort to reduce drug overdose fatalities and offer connections to treatment and care.
After ranking highest in overdose rates for years, West Virginia recently reported a 42% decline in overdose fatalities during 2024.
On September 25, 2025, all 50 states will be hosting free naloxone events for Save a Life Day for the first time – with over 500 events already covering the map. A list of participating states and counties can be found at www.soarwv.org/save.
Crystal Michael, Morgan County Coordinator for this event, said the overdose response training and supplies can be helpful for all ages and situations.
“I am so excited to host Save a Life Day in Morgan County! I strongly believe that every person deserves the opportunity to live. Narcan gives that opportunity, whether it is someone lost in addiction, a grandma that forgot she already took her medication and takes a second dose, a kid that got ahold of someone’s prescription, or a plethora of other situations,” she said. 
Naloxone, more well known by one of its brand names, Narcan, is an easy-to-use nasal spray that works to reverse opioid overdoses. Since it was approved by the FDA over 50 years ago, this formerly prescription-only medication became an over-the-counter medication in 2023.
That same year, overdose fatality rates began to drop nationwide. By 2024, the CDC reported an almost 27% decline in fatalities across the nation. Although many factors contributed, naloxone access is a key piece of the puzzle.
“The work that Save A Life Day organizers do every day: harm reduction, prevention, substance use treatment, recovery, housing, mutual aid, community outreach, and healthcare… These are all integral pieces of the puzzle too. Save a Life Day is about celebrating where the real change happens every other day of the year,” said Caroline Wilson, Save A Life Day Coordinator for the nonprofit SOAR, WV.
Locations for the free naloxone event in Morgan County include Snyder’s Bible Church, Valley Health Internal Medicine, War Memorial Hospital and CNB Main Branch.
All attendees will receive one naloxone kit, an in-person training, and information about local resources.
This year, 55 free naloxone vending boxes, sponsored by CareSource, are currently being shipped to Save a Life Day organizers across the country. Most are destined for high-traffic outdoor locations where people will be able to access the antidote for free, 24/7.
Due to funding by additional sponsors, each participating county will also be shipped several emergency naloxone wall boxes, which can be placed on any wall, like an AED or first aid kit. The West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute will also be sending ONEbox™ emergency opioid overdose reversal kits to Save a Life Day Organizers.
Challenging stigma and changing hearts and minds is also a major mission of the day, according to Stone. “Save a Life Day is about connection. It’s about building trust, having real conversations, and showing up for each other. If one life is saved, all the effort is worth it,” she shares. Most Save A Life Day events are powered by dozens of volunteers that care deeply about this issue: people in recovery, people who have lost loved ones, and others who have seen the impact in their communities.
Across the country, organizers plan to distribute over 100,000 naloxone doses throughout the day. Each location is powered by local volunteers who attended training to be able to participate.
People who use drugs, their family members and friends, community members and anyone who wants to be prepared to save a life are welcome to get trained on September 25. The training takes just 5-10 minutes and people can show up anytime from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Life or Drugs is serving as the lead contact for Save a Life Day in Morgan County, with WVU Medicine and The Martinsburg Initiative serving as key partners and site leaders for the event.
