Save a Life Day, a grassroots national day of action to promote access to the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone, will return to Licking County this week, with an event scheduled at the Courthouse Square in Newark on Sept. 24, 2026. 

It’s one of more than 1,100 events slated to take place across all 50 states on Thursday. 

Originating in West Virginia, the event is held annually nationwide on the fourth Thursday of September, which is National Recovery Month. It’s been held annually since 2018, 

And in its seven years, the event has made a difference: Last year, more than 133,000 doses of naloxone were distributed on Save a Life Day, including 82 in Newark. 

In Licking County, the event will be held from 2-6 p.m. on Courthouse Square in downtown Newark. It is sponsored by Ohio-CAN and the Newark Homeless Outreach. 

This is the fourth year they will be hosting the event. However this is the first year they will be joined by the Licking County Health Department and Brightview Health, distributing additional resources. 

Trish Perry, the co-founder of the Newark Homeless Outreach and a Community Navigator says the event is hosted each year with the goal of “mass distributing naloxone, and getting it out on the streets.” 

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As of June, 15 people in Licking County have died from accidental overdoses in 2026. This widespread distribution of naloxone and overdose education helps save lives. 

“Overdose rates are increasing and we need to make sure everyone is carrying Narcan and knows how to use it,” Perry said. She emphasizes that people never know when they may need to use Narcan. 

“Even if you don’t have someone in your immediate circle [that uses drugs] you may see someone out shopping or at the club and it’s important people know how to help.” 

Nora Meeks writes for TheReportingProject.org, the nonprofit news organization of Denison University’s Journalism program, which is supported by generous donations from readers. Sign up for The Reporting Project newsletter here.