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iHeartMedia/Philadelphia WDAS & WUSL Initiate ‘You Have the Power To Save Lives’ Overdose Awareness Campaign
iHEARTMEDIA Urban AC (R&B) WDAS (105.3)/PHILADELPHIA and Hip-Hop N’ R&B WUSL (POWER 99)/PHILADELPHIA have joined a coalition of Black community leaders and local officials to battle the surge in overdose deaths among Black residents.
The campaign, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SAVE LIVES, hopes to increase the visibility and distribution of the overdose-reversing medication NALOXONE.
The initiative will feature iHEARTMEDIA personalities including POWER 99 RISE AND GRIND MORNING SHOW host MIKEY DREDD and WDAS Quiet Storm host ADIMU COLON. Both will use their shows to encourage listeners to carry NALOXONE and educate them on its life-saving potential.
NALOXONE, also known by the brand name NARCAN, is an over-the-counter nasal spray that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in minutes. According to 2023 data, overdose deaths in PHILADELPHIA’s Black population were nearly double that of the White population.
This campaign is backed by VITAL STRATEGIES, with additional support from the ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION. It includes more than a dozen community organizations and agencies and will establish NALOXONE access points at fire stations, health centers, and local gathering spaces.
DREDD said, “I am excited about the continued collaboration with VITAL STRATEGIES as we unite our efforts in expanding access to NARCAN. Together, we are committed to tackling the opioid crisis by ensuring that life-saving resources are available to those who need them the most. “
“This partnership reflects our shared dedication to saving lives, reducing harm, and creating healthier communities for all.”
COLON added, “I have friends and family who have been impacted by the overdose crisis within the Black community, which makes me eager to collaborate once more with VITAL STRATEGIES to tackle this issue.”
“WDAS has consistently invested in the community, and my show provides a powerful platform with unmatched reach, enabling us to educate, raise awareness and deliver essential resources across the tri-state to our loved ones who need them the most.”
The campaign extends beyond PHILADELPHIA and will also reach LOUISVILLE, KY; DURHAM, NC; MILWAUKEE; NEWARK, NJ; ALBUQUERQUE, NM; and DETROIT.
VITAL STRATEGIES VP/Overdose Prevention Initiatives DALIAH HELLER said, “We are cautiously optimistic about declining overdose death rates nationally, but after years of skyrocketing rates, the wide disparities experienced by Black communities are raising the alarm. Rates are higher among Black adults than their white counterparts; we urgently need equitable and focused strategies.
“This campaign is making lifesaving NALOXONE more widely available in Black communities in PHILADELPHIA and six other cities and mobilizing Black people to carry it to protect friends, family and community.”