My friend was a connector. He built a home for people in the noise. He was a patriarch of Denver's underground music scene—spanning punk roots to EDM evolution, throwing legendary after-hours parties, and bridging worlds that rarely touch.
He died from accidental fentanyl poisoning. The part that breaks us: It was preventable.
After his friends gave him Narcan, they thought the crisis was over. It wasn't. Narcan wears off. He was left alone. He overdosed again.
This protocol is how we honor him. By making sure it never happens again.
Act fast—every second counts. Lay the person on their back and tilt their head up. Hold the nasal spray with your thumb on the bottom of the plunger. Insert the nozzle into one nostril until your fingers touch the bottom of their nose. Press the plunger firmly to release the full dose. If they don't respond after 2-3 minutes, give another dose in the other nostril. You cannot overdose someone on Narcan—when in doubt, give it.
Learn more: narcan.com
Even if you're scared. Colorado's Good Samaritan Law may offer protections when you call for help during an overdose. The person's life is worth more than your fear. Call. Give the address. Tell them it's an overdose. Stay on the line—the dispatcher will walk you through CPR and give you step-by-step instructions until help arrives.
Narcan wears off in 30-90 minutes. Fentanyl can stay in the system much longer. If you leave them alone after giving Narcan, they can—and will—overdose again. Stay. Watch their breathing. Be ready to give more Narcan if needed. Do not leave until EMS arrives. A hospital can monitor them through the danger window that home cannot. If they refuse medical treatment or insist they're fine—stay anyway. Sit with them. Watch over them. Your presence could be the only thing standing between them and a second overdose. This is not the time to respect their wishes to be left alone. This is the time to save their life.
Narcan is NOT a cure. It's a temporary reversal. Giving Narcan and walking away is like putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound. The underlying danger is still there. Follow all three steps. Every time. No exceptions.
The protocol above is for emergencies—but the best emergency is the one that never happens.
Test your substances. Fentanyl test strips are cheap, widely available, and take seconds to use. If you're going to partake, know what you're putting into your body. This is not paranoia. This is survival.
Never ingest an unknown substance. Not a pill you found. Not a line someone handed you. Not something from a stranger or an unverified source. If it's not yours, don't take it—you have no idea what it could be. If you don't know exactly what it is and where it came from, it doesn't go in your body. Period.
This isn't judgment—it's reality. Fentanyl can come in many forms: pills, powders, and substances you wouldn't expect. Stay aware and on guard for the possibility, because there is no "safe" assumption anymore.
You are the last line of defense for your own life. No one else can make this choice for you. Take responsibility for what enters your body, because the wrong decision doesn't come with a second chance.
If you use—own it. Not for judgment, but for safety.
When we hide our use, we put everyone around us at risk. Your friends can't carry Narcan if they don't know to carry it. Your partner can't watch for warning signs if they don't know there's danger. Your roommate can't avoid a stray substance if they don't know it exists. Secrecy doesn't protect you—it isolates you in the moment you need help most.
If you have fentanyl or any high-risk substance, secure it. Lock it away. Keep it far from anyone who doesn't understand what it is—children, guests, friends who didn't sign up for this risk. A curious mistake, a mislabeled bag, an accidental touch—these have killed people who never intended to use anything at all.
This scene, this culture, this community—it only survives if we take care of each other. That means being honest about what's in the room. It means making sure the people around you know what they're walking into. It means preparing yourself and your circle for the realities we live with.
We don't get to make choices in a vacuum. Our decisions ripple outward. When you choose to partake, you also choose to be responsible—for yourself, for your space, and for every person who trusts you enough to be there with you.
Normalize the conversation. Destigmatize the honesty. Because the real danger isn't people knowing—it's people not knowing until it's too late.
NextDistro: Free Narcan by mail, no questions asked. nextdistro.org
Local: Many pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens) provide Narcan without prescription.
Fentanyl Test Strips: Available at harm reduction sites, some pharmacies, and online. Takes seconds. Could save your life.
DanceSafe: Drug checking services and test kits. dancesafe.org
SAMHSA Toolkit: Free training resources. store.samhsa.gov
Harm Reduction Coalition: In-person and online training. harmreduction.org
SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 (24/7, free, confidential)
Never Use Alone: 1-800-484-3731
Colorado law may offer legal protections when you call 911 during an overdose emergency. Search "Colorado Good Samaritan Law overdose" for current information.
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