FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Contact: SFDPH Media Desk DPH.Press@sfdph.org
San Francisco, CA – The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) and the Entertainment Commission, along with drag artists, will partner this August to increase overdose awareness, share vital information on how to detect and respond to an overdose, and provide lifesaving Naloxone trainings to San Francisco’s nightlife, entertainment, and LGBTQ+ and African-American communities.
This partnership coincides with Overdose Awareness Week and International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) on August 31st. The two agencies have partnered since 2022 to host overdose prevention trainings at nightlife venues and to produce an instructional video and other content on how to access and administer naloxone, as well how to use fentanyl testing strips.
In August 2023, SFDPH and the Entertainment Commission partnered with Bay Area Drag Queen Kochina Rude to pilot outreach events at Oasis and El Rio to raise awareness on overdoses and educate the nightlife community on ways people can prevent an overdose. In 2024, the campaign will continue to advance this work through its partnership with Kochina Rude and will join forces with Drag Queen Nicki Jizz, a BIPOC artist and overdose prevention advocate.
"Overdose education is important for everyone to know and understand because someone having the knowledge can save a life while emergency services are on the way,” said Drag Queen Nicki Jizz. “Overdoses can be prevented with the right education and a dose of naloxone. Since I have learned about overdose prevention, I've been able to put it to use and save someone from overdosing. It’s also a way to bring our community together and show that every life is precious."
More than 75% of the overdose deaths in San Francisco are a result of fentanyl, which is 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. Naloxone, a life-saving medication used to reverse an opioid overdose, is one tool to help prevent a deadly overdose. Fentanyl test strips also allow users to test their drugs to determine if fentanyl is present.
“The Entertainment Commission is excited to partner again with SFDPH and local drag artists on this critical outreach to empower our nightlife community with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves and others from accidental overdoses from fentanyl,” said Entertainment Commission Executive Director Maggie Weiland. “We are also delighted that this work elevates San Francisco’s world-renowned drag community and uses the artistry of drag to convey the message: Naloxone saves lives.”
Since January 2023, SFDPH has distributed more than 300 Naloxone kits to nightlife venues and provided in-person training to more than 200 individuals. In 2024, SFDPH distributed 1200 fentanyl testing strips to six different venues across the city.
“This work saves lives and we are thrilled that the Entertainment Commission and the drag artists community have joined us to get the word out and get people trained to respond to an overdose,” said Eileen Loughran, Director of Overdose Prevention at the Department of Public Health. “Fentanyl is deadly and it is often present in recreational drugs unbeknownst to the user. It is important that everyone knows how to save a person from accidental overdose.”
International Overdose Awareness Day – held on August 31st – is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind.
In an effort to heighten the awareness around overdose, a number of events throughout the month of August are scheduled, including:
Thursday, Aug 1, 10pm-12:30am
Beaux – “Queer Pop”
Hosted by Nicki Jizz 2344 Market Street
https://www.beauxsf.com/
Nicki Jizz, current winner of the Drag Queen of the Year pageant, voted 4-time Best Drag Queen of the Bay Area, will be providing Naxalone and fentanyl test strip training, as well as other overdose awareness resources.
Friday, Aug 9, 10pm –2am
Oasis – “Reparations: An All-Black Drag Show and Dance Party”
Hosted by Nicki Jizz
298 11th Street
https://www.sfoasis.com/reparations
Nicki Jizz, current winner of the Drag Queen of the Year pageant, voted 4-time Best Drag Queen of the Bay Area, will be providing Naxalone and fentanyl test strip training, as well as other overdose awareness resources.
Saturday, August 10, 10pm –2am
Oasis – “Princess: A Disco-Pop Dance Party and Drag Spectacular”
Hosted by Kochina Rude
298 11th Street
https://www.sfoasis.com/princess
Kochina Rude, known for her do-it-yourself hard femme style, is a Chicano drag queen, vocalist, and emcee born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a harm reduction advocate, providing overdose prevention trainings and Naloxone distribution to partygoers at SF Oasis every weekend.
Saturday, August 31, 9pm-2am (International Overdose Awareness Day)
Beaux – “US: Celebrating BIPOC Excellence in LGBTQIA Nightlife”
Hosted by Mercedez Munro.
Training provided by Nicki Jizz.
2344 Market Street
https://www.beauxsf.com/
Nicki Jizz, current winner of the Drag Queen of the Year pageant, voted 4-time Best Drag Queen of the Bay Area, will be providing Naxalone and fentanyl test strip training, as well as other overdose awareness resources.
For more information and overdose resources, visit: https://sf.gov/overdose-prevention-nightlife
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