Beloit proclaims August overdose awareness month; fire department highlights Narcan availability

The Beloit City Council adopted a proclamation recognizing August 2025 as Overdose Awareness Month and designated Aug. 31, 2025, as International Overdose Awareness Day.

Deputy Chief Griffin, accepting the proclamation on behalf of the Beloit Fire Department, described local harm‑reduction and response efforts. "Every single one of our vehicles have some type of Narcan in their vehicles," Griffin said, adding that fire trucks and ambulances carry the medication and crews can administer it immediately to help save lives.

The proclamation text presented to council cited national and local data: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s national figure of more than 100,000 overdose deaths in the United States, the prevalence of fentanyl and synthetic opioids in the overdose crisis, and Rock County’s local efforts that include fatality reviews, real‑time monitoring and distribution of "hope kits" containing naloxone (Narcan) and fentanyl test strips. The proclamation encouraged residents to remember lives lost, support recovery and reduce stigma.

Deputy Chief Griffin also noted a library partnership: the Beloit Public Library maintains a Narcan dispenser that members of the public may obtain as needed. He thanked councilors for the proclamation and said the combined efforts of public health, law enforcement and community partners have reversed dozens of overdoses in single weeks since 2023, according to the materials Griffin referenced.

The council presented the proclamation during the special orders portion of the meeting; staff recorded the proclamation as "Proclamation 2025‑032" in the agenda listing. The presentation was ceremonial and no formal ordinance or budget action was associated with the proclamation.