The naloxone challenge is about saving lives.

And it is proving effective.

With hundreds of people dying every year from the opioid crisis, the goal of the challenge is to teach the average citizen how to administer the life-saving antidote.

Holly Vanjoff, with the Vernon Health Unit, stopped by the Castanet office in Vernon to show just how easy it is to use naloxone.

Castanet Vernon was taking part in the Naloxone Challenge, where Vanjoff goes to businesses and gives an lesson on how to recognize an overdose and how to administer naloxone.

“The naloxone training is free to any member in the community as well as any business or organization,” said Vanjoff, adding the goal is to train as many people as possible to save lives.

Training takes place at the Vernon Health Unit and other locations around town. Individuals or businesses wanting to get in on the Naloxone Challenge can contact the health unit or Vanjoff at 250-549-5772, or email at [email protected].

And naloxone has proven itself to be a real lifesaver.

“Just over 40,000 naloxone kits were reported to have been used in BC to reverse an opioid overdose,” she said.

Last year in BC, more than 1,500 people died from a drug overdose, the majority of which were caused by opioids.