COVINGTON, Ky. — Gabi Deaton is the prevention specialist coordinator for the HEALing (Helping End Addiction Long Term) Communities Study with the University of Kentucky. 

She’s handing out free Narcan as part of the job and making sure people know how to use it.

“Call 911 and lay them flat on their back. If you’re comfortable, do rescue breathing or CPR. You don’t have to, but it is helpful. Take your first nasal spray. They look just like this up the nostril and push. Wait two minutes, take the second one, and do it up the opposite nostril,” she instructs people.

Deaton has the instructions memorized. Once a week, she appears on Madison Avenue in Covington. She’ll even make a trip up the street to buy some pizza to hand out with the Narcan.

“With Madison Avenue being a busy street, right next to Parrish soup kitchen, there’s multiple sober living houses. We seem to have a really good turnout every week,” Deaton said.

The goal with this HEAL initiative is to reduce opioid overdose deaths by 40%. Deaton said she’s handing out the Narcan and raising awareness on substance abuse and sharing her story as well with others.

“I am in recovery. I’ve been in recovery for 11 years,” she told someone grabbing Narcan from her.

Deaton’s an open book and has had Narcan used on her not once, but twice during her battle with substance abuse. She’s grateful to be alive and wants to give others that same help.

“The more naloxone that is out in the community, the more opportunities people will have to live their life and not go through these struggles anymore,” she said.

Narcan is just the start to living a full life.

“It’s not just we want people to live, but I want them to actually live their life once they receive that gift,” she said.