NSC Statement on Biden Administration's White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Safety Council is ecstatic with the announcement of the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose by the Biden Administration. The Challenge is a nationwide call to action to stakeholders across public and private sectors to save lives by committing to increasing training on and access to lifesaving opioid overdose reversal medications.

Workplace overdose deaths have increased greatly over the last decade – 619% since 2011 – which makes addressing this crisis at work critical to saving lives everywhere. With millions of people employed in the U.S., public and private workplaces of all sizes must train workers on how to administer opioid overdose reversal medications so each person is ready to respond in case of an emergency.

Overdoses can happen anywhere at any time and to anyone. Workers who are trained can respond to an overdose not just at work, but at home, in their community and anywhere in between. NSC recognizes employers play a significant role in the equation, which is why it launched the Respond Ready Workplace program to engage employers in the important effort to be able to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose. We are grateful to see business leaders and employers already stepping up to equip workers with information, tools and resources to keep themselves and others safe.

NSC applauds the Administration for this meaningful step towards bringing an end to the opioid epidemic and engaging the business community to help. As America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate, NSC is proud to not only participate in this Challenge, but to also have made a full commitment to it. We urge all employers to participate in this Challenge; lives depend on it.

About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council is America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate – and has been for 110 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace and roadways. We create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives.

Partner with NSC

With a century-long legacy, the National Safety Council is a global center for safety expertise. Let's work together to align resources. We look forward to learning about ways we can join efforts to expand safety everywhere!

Request More Information

NSC Statement on Biden Administration's White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose

Partner with NSC

Shopping Cart