Going into this reading, I have believed that just about everyone in Philadelphia, especially those who take public transportation, should carry Narcan with them at all times. To be a responsible samaritan in a city that lost over 1,200 to opioids in 2017 means that most civilians should be able to properly respond in the event of an overdose. I do believe, however, that carrying Narcan is an individual’s choice, and I recognize that many would choose not to carry the temporary-opioid-reverser on them. That being said, professionals that interact with communities at greater risk, including journalists, should take their increased likelihood of encountering an overdose into consideration when deciding whether to carry or not.

I appreciated the Society of Professional Journalists’ response stating that using Narcan is comparable to performing CPR or the Heimlich maneuver, as it is simply a different form of rescue. Reporter Sonia Nazario’s quote said one should not intervene or change the story. While she was referring to an instance in which her photographer gave a family in need, who was being profiled, a bag of groceries, and not one’s decision to administer Narcan, I still disagree with her position. For those who say they would not intervene in an extreme situation with a person in need, I would say to them, that they are taking themselves too seriously. I absolutely do not feel that one should feel implied to somehow help their subject, but situations like this are complex. There are so many factors that play into one’s decision about how to act in extreme circumstances, and I think those decisions are ultimately left up to the individuals present at the scene.