In a partnership to save lives and protect the local community, Project Overdose and Black Ink Orlando have teamed up to make naloxone, a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses, a standard item in tattoo shop aftercare bags.
Project Overdose distributed 5,280 doses of naloxone to Black Ink Orlando, marking a major milestone in the fight against overdose deaths in Central Florida.
What began as a single partnership has quickly grown into a movement. Recognizing their influence and responsibility, Black Ink Orlando reached out to colleagues, bringing many local tattoo studios into the effort. Shops across Orlando and beyond are now joining the mission by including naloxone in every after-care bag changing the standard of care in the tattoo industry; a bold step to help clients, families, and communities be prepared to act in a crisis.
“Saving lives starts with access,” said Andrae Bailey, Founder of Project Overdose, formally known as Project Opioid. “Thanks to Black Ink Orlando, we’re not only expanding that access, but we’re also proving that carrying naloxone is not just smart, it’s standard care.”
Project Overdose is Florida’s leading naloxone distributor, having provided over 100,000 free doses and conducted more than 180 no-cost Overdose Awareness and Response Trainings in 2024 alone. The organization is on track to exceed those numbers in 2025, further expanding its reach and life-saving impact across the state.
This collaboration is breaking the stigma around carrying naloxone, proving that life-saving action belongs in everyday life and every industry. Because of the resources made available by Project Overdose and Black Ink Orlando’s respected standing in the community, this initiative is poised to save lives and set a new standard of care that reaches far beyond Orlando.
“Every life matters.” said Safari, Manager for Black Ink. “Our mission has always been to change lives through our art and save lives through action. By making naloxone available in our studio, we’re sending a clear message: we care. Our doors are always open to anyone impacted by addiction and/or overdose. With a no-questions-asked policy, we want people to feel safe walking in and taking what they need.”
Orlando District 5 Commissioner Shan Rose also expressed her strong support for the initiative. “As Commissioner, I am proud to stand alongside Black Ink Orlando in this life-saving partnership through Project Overdose,” she said. “Every dose is a chance to save a life, and every life saved is a step toward healing our neighborhoods. We recognize that every neighborhood is affected by this crisis, and we are meeting it with urgency, equity, and action. We’re not just delivering resources; we’re building trust and reinforcing the message that every life is worth saving.”
This partnership comes at a critical time. Although, according to the CDC, U.S. overdose deaths dropped by nearly 27% in 2024, falling from approximately 110,000 in 2023 to about 80,400, the lowest level in five years, and Orange County saw a 37% decline in opioid-related overdose deaths, along with a 30% drop in overall accidental drug overdoses, there is still much more work to be done.
Experts point to expanded naloxone training and distribution as one of the leading reasons for this progress, proving that getting this life-saving medication into the hands of everyday people works.
Project Overdose, formerly known as Project Opioid, is a leading statewide initiative that empowers community leaders to confront the overdose crisis. They educate leaders on how to build a coalition, launch a regional overdose initiative, and promote high-level advocacy to transform and save the greatest number of lives. As the largest naloxone distributor in Florida, Project Overdose partners with communities, businesses, and organizations to expand access to life-saving resources.
