Community Volunteers Assemble Lifesaving Naloxone Kits at Skyland Trail

February 17, 2025

ATLANTA—On Thursday, February 13, Skyland Trail hosted a community naloxone kit assembly event, bringing together volunteers and staff to assemble over 1,700 overdose reversal kits. Participating volunteers included members of the Skyland Trail Associates, Skyland Trailblazers, and Skyland Trail Grateful Families groups. The event, held in partnership with Georgia Overdose Prevention, aimed to expand access to naloxone, a medication that can rapidly reverse opioid overdoses and save lives.

Andy Gish, RN, BSN, CEN, a board-certified emergency nurse and harm reduction advocate, led the session. Gish discussed Georgia’s 9-1-1 Medical Amnesty Law and how to administer naloxone effectively. Gish, who has spent years educating communities on overdose response, emphasized the importance of reducing stigma and increasing access to lifesaving resources.

Andy Gish, RN, BSN, CEN presents to community volunteers

“In an overdose situation, having naloxone readily available can mean the difference between life and death,” said Gish. “By coming together as a community to assemble these kits, we are giving more people the opportunity to survive and seek help.”

The 1,700 naloxone kits assembled at the event will be distributed across Georgia through Georgia Overdose Prevention, a grassroots organization dedicated to overdose education and prevention.

This initiative aligns with Georgia’s 9-1-1 Medical Amnesty Law, which protects individuals from arrest or prosecution when calling for emergency assistance during a suspected overdose. By ensuring broad access to naloxone and educating the community on legal protections, events like these reinforce the importance of quick action and harm reduction strategies in saving lives.

Skyland Trail, a nonprofit mental health treatment organization, remains committed to addressing co-occurring substance use and mental health challenges through education, advocacy, and treatment.

For more information on overdose prevention and naloxone access, visit Georgia Overdose Prevention.