The Mississippi State Department of Health is celebrating a milestone in its pursuit to curb overdose fatalities.

On Thursday, the agency announced its opioid and substance use program had distributed more than 20,000 free individual naloxone kits throughout the state. Naloxone is a lifesaving medication that can reverse an overdose from opioids, including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications.

State health officials began offering free naloxone kits to the public in December 2022. The recently reached milestone is being celebrated ahead of “International Overdose Awareness Day,” which takes place on Aug. 31.

“Our program is saving lives every day by making naloxone readily available to the people of Mississippi,” Jon Hubanks, director of the opioid and substance use pro

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