MOBILE, Ala. — Free naloxone, the medication that can reverse an opioid overdose, was being handed out across Mobile, Baldwin and Washington counties on Thursday as the Mobile County Health Department and a local recovery organization joined communities in all 50 states for Save-A-Life Day.
Save-A-Life Day is a nationwide day of action that promotes widespread, year-round access to naloxone as one solution to the overdose crisis. This year’s observance on Thursday, Sept. 24, marked the second fully national Save-A-Life Day, with every state participating.
From a two-county pilot to a national movement
The event began in 2020 as a two-county pilot program in West Virginia, a state hit especially hard by the opioid epidemic. It has since grown into a national effort. In 2025 alone, communities across the country distributed around 133,000 doses of naloxone in a single day.
The idea is simple: the more people who carry naloxone and know how to use it, the more likely it is that someone will be able to act quickly when an overdose happens.
P.E.I.R. leads local distribution
This year, People Engaged In Recovery, known as P.E.I.R., sponsored Save-A-Life Day in Mobile County. The organization also sponsored Save-A-Life Day events in Baldwin and Washington counties.
“MCHD appreciates our partnership with People Engaged in Recovery (PEIR). Their teams will distribute Narcan in Mobile, Baldwin, and Washington counties,” said Danielle Simpson, who oversees the health department’s Overdose Prevention Program.
The Mobile County Health Department’s Overdose Prevention Program also took part directly.
“The MCHD Overdose Prevention Program will also distribute 164 individual boxes (2 doses per box), for a total of 328 single doses,” Simpson said.
P.E.I.R. champions recovery with the goal of positively transforming communities one person at a time. The organization’s office is located on Airport Boulevard in Mobile.
‘Help is available’
Dr. Kevin Michaels, health officer for Mobile County, said opioid misuse remains a national emergency, and he encouraged anyone struggling to reach out.
“Today, opioid misuse is an epidemic in the United States and contributes to the death of nearly 70,000 people each year,” Michaels said. “Some people have a higher risk for opioid addiction than others. If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid use, help is available.”
Free naloxone year-round at local kiosks
Save-A-Life Day is a single day of action, but free naloxone is available in Mobile County throughout the year. The health department’s Overdose Prevention Program has placed Prevention & Wellness kiosks across the community where residents can pick up free naloxone kits without cost or paperwork.
Kiosks are currently located at:
- Vista Medical, 4400 Rangeline Road, Tillmans Corner
- Shell Health, 4321 Downtowner Loop North, Mobile
- Semmes Pharmacy, 8985 Moffett Road, Semmes
- MCHD Women, Infants & Children (WIC) office, 19255 North Main Street, Citronelle
The kiosk previously located at B-Bob’s Bar in downtown Mobile will soon be moved to another site, according to the health department.
The kiosk program launched in November 2024 as Alabama’s first Prevention & Wellness Kiosk Initiative. As of August 2026, the kiosks had dispensed 692 products, including 377 two-dose packages of naloxone, along with items such as gun locks and fentanyl test strips.
What naloxone is and how it works
Naloxone is a medication that rapidly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. It is best known by one of its brand names, Narcan, which comes as an easy-to-use nasal spray. Naloxone works by blocking the effects of opioids on the brain and restoring normal breathing in a person whose breathing has slowed or stopped because of an overdose.
Naloxone nasal spray is available without a prescription, and it is safe to use. It has no effect on a person who has not taken opioids, so there is little risk in giving it to someone who may be overdosing. Because fentanyl and other powerful synthetic opioids have become common in the illicit drug supply, public health officials encourage people to keep naloxone on hand even if they do not think anyone around them uses opioids.
Recognizing an overdose
Knowing the signs of an opioid overdose can help bystanders act quickly. Common signs include:
- The person cannot be awakened or does not respond to their name or to being shaken
- Slow, shallow or irregular breathing, or no breathing
- Unusual snoring, gurgling or choking sounds
- Blue, gray or pale lips or fingertips
- Very small, “pinpoint” pupils
How to respond
If you suspect someone is overdosing:
- Call 911. Tell the dispatcher the person is not breathing or is unresponsive.
- Give naloxone. For the nasal spray, insert the nozzle into one nostril and press the plunger firmly.
- Support breathing. If trained, give rescue breaths. Otherwise, lay the person on their side in the recovery position to keep the airway clear.
- Stay with the person. Naloxone can wear off before the opioids do. If the person does not respond within a few minutes, a second dose may be needed.
Guiding people toward recovery
The health department says its Overdose Prevention team is committed not only to preventing overdoses, but also to guiding individuals through recovery options. Organizations like P.E.I.R. play a key role by connecting people with peer support and resources as they work toward recovery.
Anyone who is struggling with opioid use, or who is worried about a loved one, can contact the Mobile County Health Department or P.E.I.R. for information about resources. The national SAMHSA Helpline, 1-800-662-4357, also offers free, confidential treatment referral and information 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
As Michaels put it: help is available.