Naloxone at Party in the Paddock
August 31 is world overdose day. Let’s revisit the value of Naloxone.
When you think of music festivals, life-saving medicine probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But at this year’s Party in the Paddock, one team made it their mission to bring life-saving naloxone directly to festival-goers — and the impact was bigger than anyone imagined.
Naloxone, first developed in the 1960s, is a medication that rapidly reverses the effects of opioid overdoses. Today, it’s available as an easy-to-use nasal spray, giving bystanders the critical minutes needed to call emergency services and save a life. Importantly, it’s safe to use even if you’re not sure whether an opioid is involved — it won’t harm someone who doesn’t need it.
In 2022, Australia expanded access to naloxone through the free Take-Home Naloxone (THN) program, available at most pharmacies. No prescription, no cost. Still, public awareness remains low — something festival organisers and youth health workers aimed to change.
With just a month to prepare, a team from The Link Youth Health Service set up a marquee at Party in the Paddock. Stocked with toiletries, sunscreen, condoms, phone chargers, fentanyl test strips, and most importantly, naloxone, the booth quickly became a hub for festival-goers curious about harm reduction. Staff offered information in a judgment-free environment, emphasizing that carrying naloxone is not only legal but could save a life — even if you’re not someone who uses drugs yourself.
And people listened. Far from the typical indifference sometimes faced at health stalls, attendees were eager to ask questions — about naloxone, about pill testing, about fentanyl. Some even grabbed multiple boxes to bring back to their campsites to share. In total, an incredible 296 boxes (592 units) of naloxone were handed out over the weekend — smashing the team’s original goal of just 50.
The team also handed out fentanyl test strips, teaching attendees how to safely test substances without losing their supply. They made it clear: a simple scrape of residue could help detect dangerous contamination, without waste or fear.
One unexpected but comic moment came when a young woman, mistaking the naloxone spray for regular nasal spray, accidentally used it — proving first-hand just how safe naloxone is for everyone.
A key part of the program’s success was the cooperation of festival staff, who ensured the area remained a true safe space. This fostered trust, reduced fear of surveillance, and let genuine conversations about safety and survival happen.
As powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl become more common, the need for public education around naloxone only grows. Thankfully, initiatives like this show that with the
right approach — peer-led, friendly, and stigma-free — young people are more than ready to take harm reduction into their own hands.
Because sometimes, saving a life can be as simple as carrying a tiny orange-and-blue box in your backpack.
Link go interview with Mackenzie from The Link about Naloxone.
QR code: https://redthread.org.au/in-conversation-with-mackenzie-from-the-link-youth-service/
