What is Project RED

Project RED is an overdose prevention and harm reduction program from the Alano Club of Portland dedicated to increasing the availability and accessibility of overdose prevention supplies, education and trainings. Project RED works across Oregon to distribute FREE naloxone, overdose prevention supplies, education and trainings to those facing barriers to access, including but not limited to mutual aid and community based organizations, businesses (bars, restaurants, strip clubs, music venues, and others), emergency responders, and individuals. Our mission is to meet others where they’re at and make these vital resources as easily accessible as we can. That means on-site and mobile delivery, as well as mail-order delivery through a partnership with NEXT Distro. We also work with artists, bands and promoters to coordinate harm reduction and overdose prevention activations at national tour stops.

Pearl Jam to Partner with Project RED and the Alano Club of Portland on Overdose Prevention Initiative for U.S. Tour Dates

For the third year in a row, Project RED is proud to join Pearl Jam for all the US dates on their Dark Matter Tour! We’ll be at each show distributing FREE Narcan and educational materials, and offering free overdose awareness and reversal trainings.

MORE ABOUT PROJECT RED

WHO WE ARE

Project RED was conceived by Alano Club of Portland Program Director Ellen Wirshup, who began the program by distributing overdose supplies and educational materials, on foot, to anyone who faced barriers to access — with a focus on food and beverage establishments and workers, and community based organizations — before partnering with the Alano Club of Portland to develop and expand the program.

WHAT WE DO

  • Reduce barriers to access by Delivering cost-free overdose prevention supplies and educational materials to mutual aid and community based organizations, businesses, agencies, emergency responders, and individuals who need them.

  • Increase preparedness by distributing educational materials and administering overdose prevention and awareness trainings.

  • Work with bands, artists, venues, businesses and community based organizations to provide Narcan to those in need at large scale national events.

  • Respond to need among underserved communities with mobile services focused on education, training, delivery of overdose prevention supplies, and wound care.

  • Fentanyl is the leading cause of death in people ages 18-45

    In 2021 40,010 people died of fentanyl poisoning, the leading cause of death for people ages 18-45, and nearly double that of the second leading cause of death, motor vehicle accidents.

    THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

  • Three in five overdose deaths happen with a bystander present

    62.7% of all overdose deaths had documentation of at least one potential opportunity for prevention intervention. Naloxone (Narcan) reverses opioid overdose, and fentanyl test strips can identify the drug in pills and powders, which can prevent overdose.

    THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

  • More than 100,000 people die annually of drug overdose

    Provisional data from CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics indicate that there were an estimated 100,306 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 12-month period ending in April 2021, an increase of 28.5% from the 78,056 deaths during the same period the year before.

    THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

NOT EVERYONE NEEDS OVERDOSE PREVENTION

BUT ANYONE CAN PREVENT AN OVERDOSE

Despite these figures, Fentanyl test strips are considered paraphernalia in nearly half the states in the US and Narcan is not easily accessible, often requires a prescription, and is cost-prohibitive for many, especially those without health insurance and in rural areas. By removing these barriers and increasing awareness, we can save lives.

Our mission is to ensure the removal of these barriers by making sure anyone who may need or want it has access to overdose prevention supplies, and is trained in overdose prevention methods.

Find Pharmacies and community organizations distributing narcan and conducting trainings
in your state.

Find naloxone and trainings

GET NALOXONE BY MAIL

if you need naloxone and cannot access it locally, you may qualify to have it mailed to you.

SIGNS OF AN OVERDOSE

NARCAN TRAINING VIDEO

NALOXONE EXPLAINER

BUNNY AND WOLF: AN ANIMATED GUIDE TO PREVENT OVERDOSE