What is REVIVE? How Anyone in Western Tidewater Can Carry Naloxone and Save a Life

If you have turned on the news, scrolled through social media, or spoken with neighbors in your community recently, you have likely heard about the opioid epidemic. It is a topic that carries a heavy weight. For many of us, it is not just a news headline—it is a deeply personal reality.

Perhaps you have a family member battling an addiction to prescription painkillers. Maybe a close friend is struggling with heroin, or you are terrified by the rising reports of fentanyl being found in our local communities. When you love someone who is struggling with substance abuse, the fear of an overdose is a constant, suffocating presence. You might feel entirely helpless, waiting for a phone call that you pray never comes.

But we want you to know something incredibly important: You are not helpless.

You have the power to step out of the shadows of fear and become an active protector of your family and your community. You do not need a medical degree, a badge, or a cape to be a hero. You simply need knowledge, compassion, and a medication called Naloxone.

At Western Tidewater Community Services Board (WTCSB), we believe that every single resident of Suffolk, Franklin, Isle of Wight County, and Southampton County should have the tools to prevent a tragedy. That is why we are proud to offer the REVIVE! program.

The Local Reality of the Opioid Crisis

To understand why this training is so vital, we must first look at the hard facts facing our state.

Since 2013, fatal drug overdose has been the leading method of unnatural death in Virginia, surpassing all other forms of unnatural death including homicide, suicide, motor vehicles accidents, and undetermined deaths. Opioids, and specifically fentanyl, have driven most of these deaths.

Click here to learn more about the Virginia State Opioid Response (SOR)

The statistics are heartbreaking. In 2023, we lost 2,082 people to opioid overdose in Virginia. Each person’s life experience and relationship to their community was unique. As of 2023, nearly one in three Americans knew someone who has fatally overdosed, most often a close family member or friend – a devastating emotional reality. (source)

When we talk about addiction, there is often a loud, judgmental inner critic in our society that tries to assign blame or treat addiction as a moral failing. This stigma is not only factually incorrect; it is incredibly dangerous because it keeps people from seeking help. Substance use disorder is a complex medical condition, often rooted in trauma, mental illness, or untreated emotional pain.

CDC data show that 70% of drug-related deaths in Virginia were preventable in 2023, and most involved opioids. Most lives lost could have been saved. With evidence-based opioid care, we know we can improve outcomes. In fact, even more overdoses (2,235) were reversed than the total number of fatal overdoses – thanks to comprehensive harm reduction efforts.

This is where you come in.

The Hero’s Toolkit: Understanding Naloxone (Narcan)

An opioid overdose happens when a person consumes too much of an opioid (like heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, or hydrocodone). These drugs attach to specific receptors in the brain that regulate breathing. During an overdose, breathing slows down drastically or stops completely, depriving the brain and body of oxygen.

Naloxone (often known by the brand name Narcan) is an opioid antagonist. It is a life-saving medication that works by knocking the opioids off the brain’s receptors for a short period of time, rapidly reversing the overdose and restoring normal breathing.

One of the most important things to know about Naloxone is how incredibly safe it is. If you administer Naloxone to someone who is not experiencing an opioid overdose (for example, if they have simply fainted or are having a different medical emergency), it will not harm them. It has no potential for abuse, and it does not get a person “high.”

Carrying Naloxone is no different than carrying an EpiPen for severe allergies or knowing CPR. It is a basic, essential first-aid tool for the modern world.

What is the REVIVE! Program?

REVIVE! is the Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education (OONE) program for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

REVIVE! provides training on how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose emergency using naloxone.

At Western Tidewater CSB, we passionately strive to support, connect, improve and assist individual, family and community wellness by offering a comprehensive array of strategies; all proven to reduce the challenges and adversity of substance use, mental illness and risk-taking behaviors. Through advocacy, assessment and collaborative community partnerships, we aim to prevent crisis and promote wellness for all of our diverse communities.

We offer regular REVIVE! training to our community. This means that anyone—a parent in Windsor, a teacher in Smithfield, a retail worker in Suffolk, or a college student in Franklin—can easily access this life-saving education.

Inside the Training: What You Will Learn

When you sign up for a REVIVE! class with WTCSB, you are stepping into a compassionate, educational environment. The training is straightforward, highly practical, and designed for individuals with absolutely no medical background.

This training covers:

• Understanding Opioids: What they are, how they interact with the brain, and why they are so highly addictive.
• How Opioid Overdoses Happen: The biology behind an overdose and the timeline of how it occurs.
• Risk Factors for Opioid Overdoses: Identifying who is at the highest risk, including those who mix substances, have changes in tolerance, or use alone.
• How to Respond to an Opioid Overdose Emergency: Step-by-step instructions on checking for responsiveness, calling 911, performing rescue breathing, and the administration of Naloxone.

The goal of this training is to replace panic with preparation. When you know exactly what to do, you can act quickly and confidently to save a life.

Note: The basic REVIVE! Training is not sufficient for First Responders and will not qualify you for “No Cost Naloxone”. First Responders include Law enforcement, EMS, Fire Dept., Regional Jails, Probation and Parole, Forestry, Military, Juvenile Justice, Court Services, State Parks, and Correctional Facilities. WTCSB offers separate, specialized training for these vital professionals.

Breaking the Stigma in Western Tidewater

We must collectively change the way we view the opioid crisis. The stigma surrounding addiction isolates those who are suffering and prevents communities from taking proactive safety measures.

You might think, “I don’t know anyone who uses drugs, so I don’t need to carry Naloxone.” But the reality of the fentanyl crisis is that accidental overdoses are happening in public restrooms, in parked cars at the grocery store, and at community events. Carrying Naloxone is an act of profound civic duty and love for your neighbors. It says to the community, “I value human life, and I am prepared to protect it.”

If you are struggling with substance use yourself, we want you to know that your life is incredibly valuable. At WTCSB, we are a public, community mental health agency dedicated to serving our community members in their time of need. We offer substance abuse counseling, medication-assisted treatment, and intensive outpatient programs. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for help by calling (757) 758-5106 or making an appointment online for same-day access.

Become a Hero in Your Community Today

Are you ready to learn how to save a life?

At Western Tidewater CSB we know that wellness is an integral part and outcome of all Behavioral Health. Empowering our community members with education and Naloxone is one of the most effective ways we can fight back against the opioid epidemic.

Browse the upcoming training times on this page to register to attend or you can find our main calendar here.

If you have any questions about the REVIVE! program, or if you need to speak with a clinical worker about substance abuse treatment for yourself or a loved one, please contact us.

You have the power to make a difference. Let’s move forward, together.