Recent budget proposals from the Trump administration, which include plans to terminate the $56 million annual grant program for Narcan distribution and training, have raised concerns among public health advocates, harm reduction workers, and many in the dance music and nightlife community.
While U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not explicitly stated his support for ending the program, recent actions and proposals under his leadership suggest a shift in priorities. Critics argue that ending access to Narcan — a life-saving overdose reversal drug — would be a major step back in the ongoing fight against the opioid crisis.
What Is the Narcan Distribution Program?
Narcan is the brand name for naloxone, a medication that can quickly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Available as a nasal spray, it’s simple to administer and has become a widely used tool for first responders, public health organizations, and even bystanders. In emergency situations, Narcan can restore normal breathing in minutes, often before an ambulance even arrives.
Thanks to FDA approval for over-the-counter sales in 2023, it’s now easier than ever to carry and use.
The federal Narcan distribution program helps get naloxone into the hands of people who need it most, including local health departments, nonprofits, schools, libraries, and community harm reduction groups. The goal: reduce overdose deaths by increasing access to a fast-acting emergency tool.
This program has been especially important in areas hit hardest by the opioid epidemic, and it’s also made its way into event spaces. Harm reduction organizations have worked to ensure Narcan is available at music festivals, music venues, and other large events in the EDM scene.
DC (Zeds Dead) at Lollapalooza via @betheplace
What RFK Jr. Is Proposing
In an April 2025 interview, RFK Jr. expressed support for ending the Narcan distribution program as part of a broader restructuring of addiction treatment in the U.S. He proposes replacing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) with a new agency focused on community healing and long-term recovery. His emphasis is on prevention and addressing the deeper causes of addiction, such as isolation and trauma. In his speech he stated,
We need to really focus on reestablishing historic ties to the community,” he said. “We have this whole generation of kids who lost hope in their future…. The (Alcoholics Anonymous) 12 Steps are about overcoming isolation and reestablishing our connection with the community and dealing with your own character defects, even learning to love them”
While he has spoken publicly about his own recovery from heroin addiction, critics worry that this shift in focus could come at the expense of people facing active overdoses right now.
What Experts Say
Addiction specialists and public health leaders have pushed back strongly against the proposal. They warn that cutting off access to Narcan would likely lead to an increase in overdose deaths — not just among people with long-term opioid use, but among those accidentally exposed to fentanyl-laced substances.
This isn’t just theory — Narcan saves lives. Every day.
- Narcan has reversed hundreds of thousands of overdoses in the past decade.
- Overdose deaths declined by nearly 24% in 2024, the sharpest drop in years.
- Community distribution programs have been proven to reduce mortality in high-risk populations.
@betheplace at ACL fest
Why This Hits Close to Home for the EDM Community
The dance music scene has long been a place where harm reduction is not just practiced, but prioritized. Organizations like This Must Be The Place, DanceSafe, and others have worked hard to normalize Narcan training, distribute kits, and create safer spaces for everyone.
Whether someone is knowingly using opioids or is accidentally exposed to fentanyl (increasingly found in counterfeit pills and powders), Narcan can be the difference between life and death.
If the distribution program ends, access to Narcan could shrink, especially for the grassroots groups that support music events. That means less safety for attendees and more risk during a time when opioid-related deaths are still a very real threat.
What Do You Think?
RFK Jr.’s push to end the Narcan distribution program has sparked big questions about how we approach addiction, recovery, and harm reduction. Is this a step toward real healing or a dangerous rollback of tools that are saving lives right now?
For those of us in music communities where harm reduction is part of the culture, this decision feels especially personal. We want to hear from you.
Should Narcan access be protected?
What does harm reduction look like to you?
@dancesafe_ at Cascade Equinox
Sources:
KFF Health News
“Many Drug Addiction Programs Will Be Discontinued, HHS Draft Budget Says”
Published April 25, 2025
https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-breakout/many-drug-addiction-programs-will-be-discontinued-hhs-draft-budget-says
The Independent (UK)
“RFK Jr. Wants to Eliminate a Major Addiction Agency — Despite Past Heroin Use”
Published April 25, 2025
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/rfk-jr-hhs-samhsa-naloxone-addiction-trump-b2723164.html
CDC – U.S. Overdose Deaths Decline
“CDC Reports Decline in U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths”
Published April 18, 2025
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2025/2025-cdc-reports-decline-in-us-drug-overdose-deaths.html
CDC – Naloxone Dispensing Maps
“Naloxone Dispensing Rate Maps”
Accessed April 2025
https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/data-research/facts-stats/naloxone-dispensing-rate-maps.html
BMC Public Health
“Effectiveness of Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Programs: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis”
Published February 2025
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-025-22210-8
USA Today
“RFK Jr. Talks Addiction, Recovery, and Heroin Use in Keynote at Drug Summit”
Published April 24, 2025
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2025/04/24/rfk-jr-nashville-drug-conference-addiction-recovery/83247917007
DanceSafe
About Harm Reduction and Services at Music Events
Accessed April 2025
https://dancesafe.org/about-us
This Must Be The Place
Community-led Project Supporting Safer Nightlife
Accessed April 2025
https://www.thismustbetheplace.org/theplace