(The Epoch Times)—Amid a national epidemic of opioid overdose deaths, the Biden administration has launched an initiative to distribute naloxone-based antidotes widely, including in schools and on airplanes.
In a statement announcing the “Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose,” the White House described it as “a nationwide call-to-action to stakeholders across all sectors to save lives by committing to increase both training and access to lifesaving opioid overdose reversal medications.”
Often sold under the brand name Narcan, and carried by many first responders, naloxone rapidly reverses an opioid overdose.
“An overdose can happen anywhere, to anyone,” the White House said. “That’s why President Biden has worked to strengthen not only the whole-of-government response but also the whole-of-society response to this public health and public safety crisis.
“Today, we’re calling on organizations and businesses—big and small, public and private—across the country to help ensure all communities are ready to use this life-saving tool to reduce opioid deaths,” the statement continued.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overdose deaths rose 30 percent between 2019 and 2020 and another 15 percent between 2020 and 2021.
The health agency says synthetic opioids such as fentanyl were largely to blame for the increase.
More than 109,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in the 12-month period ending January 2023, according to provisional data from the CDC. Nearly 70 percent involved illegally manufactured fentanyls (IMFs).
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. As little as 2 milligrams is potentially lethal.
According to U.S. officials, an increasing number of Mexican cartels have been importing fentanyl from China before pressing it into pills or mixing it into other counterfeit pills made to look like Xanax, Adderall, or oxycodone for sale in the United States.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has warned of a surge in overdoses involving fentanyl, which the agency says is killing Americans at an “unprecedented” rate.
As part of its “challenge,” the Biden administration is encouraging private companies and people across all sectors to train employees on opioid overdose reversal medications and keep overdose medications in first aid kits.
The administration is also urging them to distribute the medications to employees and customers so they might save a life at home, at work, or in their communities.
The drug overdose medication will be widely available, including in schools and other places of learning and on planes, including those run by Southwest Airlines, among others, and on state and local transport systems.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last year approved two opioid overdose drugs for over-the-counter (OTC) use—RiVive, which is manufactured by Harm Reduction Therapeutics and works as a nasal spray, and Narcan, the most widely used naloxone product.
“Saving lives is the North Star of the National Drug Control Strategy, and this effort requires more than just federal resources,” the White House said in the March 12 statement.
“We must come together. In memory of those we have lost and to protect those at risk of overdose, the Administration is refocusing the Nation’s attention on the devastation caused by illicit fentanyl, reaffirming our collective commitment to beating this crisis, and doubling down on efforts to empower all Americans to save lives,” officials said.
Caden Pearson contributed to this report.
Why the National Debt Is the Looming Threat to Your Retirement Plans
The Hidden Crisis No One Is Talking About
Every day, headlines warn about inflation, market volatility, and global instability—but the greatest looming threat to your retirement might be something far more fundamental: America’s skyrocketing national debt.
You can learn more about how the national debt affects you by reading this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“.
With debt growing faster than most Americans can possibly fathom, the government’s borrowing habits have reached historic—and dangerous—levels. To cover spending, Washington is making moves with their budget packages, tariffs, and taxes. Is it enough? No. It’s not even close to what would be necessary to stop out-of-control debt, let alone reverse it.
How Debt Erodes Your Nest Egg
There are only so many levers government and the Federal Reserve can pull to try to protect Americans, assuming that’s even a top priority for them. Unfortunately, pulling one level to relive one pressure invariably adds pressure from another direction. This is why prices keep going up even as inflation reportedly slows.
For retirees and pre-retirees, that’s a perfect storm. The dollars you’ve worked hard to save lose value, and your cost of living increases while your investments lag behind.
If you’re relying solely on paper-based assets—stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—you’re essentially tied to the same system that’s creating the problem. It’s a system that was designed to work well in the 20th century, not in today’s world with people living longer and the dollar rapidly losing value.
This is why the 3-minute report, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now,” is so important.
The Precious Metals Hedge
Thousands of Americans are looking for a tangible, time-tested hedge: physical gold and silver.
Unlike paper assets, precious metals aren’t dependent on government policy or the stock market’s mood swings. They’re real, finite resources that have maintained value for thousands of years through wars, recessions, and inflationary periods.
In fact, during times of high inflation and fiscal instability, gold often performs its best—because it’s seen as a store of value when faith in the dollar weakens. This is why prices have skyrocketed this year and are expected by many economists to continue going up in the future.
Take Control with a Gold IRA
One of the most effective ways to protect your retirement from national debt fallout is through a self-directed Gold IRA. This IRS-approved account lets you hold physical gold and silver within your retirement portfolio, giving you:
- Direct ownership of your assets
- A hedge against inflation and dollar decline
- The control to diversify beyond Wall Street
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping Americans just like you take this step with confidence. The company has earned a strong reputation for transparency, education, and personalized service—making it one of the most trusted names in the industry.
The Next Step: Secure Your Financial Future
Augusta Precious Metals has helped thousands of Americans with at least $50,000 to invest from their IRAs, 401(K)s, TSPs, and other retirement accounts safeguard their savings through precious metals.
If you’re concerned about what the rising national debt could mean for your future, now is the time to act.
Read this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“ and learn the simple steps you can take to protect your retirement.
