Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Emergent continues overdose education with campus and Canada initiatives

Emergent BioSolutions is using International Overdose Awareness Day to continue its education activities around opioid overdose risks in the United States and Canada. The company is focusing on awareness, preparedness and access to naloxone products.

The company cited World Health Organization data linking opioids to nearly 80 percent of drug-related deaths worldwide. Emergent said the figures underline the continuing need for education and readiness in overdose emergencies.

Ready to Rescue returns to U.S. campuses

In the United States, Emergent’s Ready to Rescue campaign is set to visit college campuses again this fall. The program continues its work with Release Recovery and its founder and CEO, Zac Clark. Events are intended to provide students, faculty and staff with information about opioid emergencies and the use of naloxone.

The campaign highlights NARCAN Nasal Spray 4 mg as a preparedness tool. In 2023, it became the first U.S. FDA-approved over-the-counter naloxone product for the rapid reversal of known or suspected opioid overdoses.

Canadian awareness work with Davis Schneider

In Canada, Emergent is continuing its partnership with professional baseball player Davis Schneider. The company pointed to the scale of the opioid crisis in the country, where an average of 15 people die each day from opioid poisonings and more than 53,000 deaths have been recorded since 2016.

Schneider also appears in a new episode of Emergent’s Countermeasures podcast with Dr. Bonnie Milas, Clinical Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Focus on recognizing emergencies

Emergent lists slowed or stopped breathing, pinpoint pupils, unresponsiveness and pale, clammy skin as potential signs of an opioid overdose. When administered promptly and followed by emergency medical assistance, naloxone nasal spray can reverse overdose effects within minutes, according to the company.

Alongside NARCAN, Emergent also referenced KLOXXADO Nasal Spray 8 mg. Zac Clark and Davis Schneider are paid spokespeople for the company.