In the News
Mississippi Takes Part in Save a Life Day
Thursday, September 25, 2025

Mississippi Takes Part in Save a Life Day
Claire Cole, WLBT Channel 3 News
September 25, 2025

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Thursday was Save a Life Day.

Mississippi joined all 50 states to pass out free naloxone. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, reverses the effects of opioid overdoses. Organizations throughout ten counties in Mississippi took part in Save a Life Day. 

Naloxone, fentanyl, and xylazine test strips as well as resources were provided to the public.

Emilee Shell is a member of the Mississippi Impact Coalition and Grace House and participated in Save a Life Day.

“We’re trying to end the overdose epidemic,” Shell said. “While we know we can’t stop all of them, it’s important just to touch as many people locally as we can.” Shell also shared why this cause is important to her.

“Personally and professionally, I’ve seen too many lives lost just way too soon,” Shell explained. “I’m always trying to figure out a way how can I help them, what can I do for the community and harm reduction approaches, and Narcan just seemed like the right thing to do.”

United Way of the Capital Area is another organization that took part in Save a Life Day. Through a partnership with the City of Jackson and the Mississippi State Department of Health, a leave-behind naloxone box was placed in the Hood Building in the capital city.

Jason McCarty, State Co-Coordinator with United Way of the Capital Area, shared some details about the reason behind this partnership.

“We know that we have a drug epidemic in Jackson,” McCarty said. “I am so grateful for my boss and our team that has come together today, that recognized that we do have an issue here and we’re providing a solution today with the City of Jackson.”

Naloxone in the leave-behind box is free to the public and will be available for the next six months.

Organizations are working to reduce the number of lives lost to opioid overdoses.

In the News
'Save a Life Day' volunteers hand out naloxone to fight opioid overdoses
Friday, September 26, 2025

'Save a Life Day' volunteers hand out naloxone to fight opioid overdoses
Simeon Gates, Mississippi Today
September 26, 2025

Jackson resident Britanny Denson says that in 2014, “I was left for dead among some other people.” 

Now in long-term recovery, Denson on Thursday helped distribute naloxone, a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. She thinks that if the people she was around back then had had some doses available, they could’ve brought her breathing back.

“They might have rather used this than immorally just leaving me like I was at the time,” she said.

On Thursday, volunteers across Mississippi distributed free boxes of naloxone during Save a Life Day in an effort to combat stigma. 

Denson is the operations coordinator for Grace House, a recovery residence for women in Hinds County. She is also a peer navigator for Mississippi Harm Reduction Initiative and one of the Hinds County organizers for Save a Life Day. She and a crew of volunteers handed out naloxone, fentanyl testing strips, free pizza and other resources outside of St Luke’s United Methodist Church in Jackson. 

One volunteer was Glen Watt, who is in recovery and originally from Crystal Springs. He offered to help because he wanted to give back to the community. 

“It’s an ongoing epidemic. It’s not just something you sweep under the rug,” he said.

From his experience, many people in Mississippi don’t know about naloxone. He said he used to be in that group. Watt said someone in his family still struggles with addiction, and he hoped to take some naloxone to them.

In Rankin County, Pearl resident Emilee Shell planned to distribute naloxone, drug test strips and more. 

Shell is the Save a Life Day county organizer for Rankin County, programs director for Mississippi Impact Coalition and director of Grace House. She is in long-term recovery. She used to work at a treatment center and said she has lost several loved ones to overdoses.