Bar & Restaurant Naloxone Readiness Program
Recovery All Ways is helping local bars, restaurants, and nightlife spaces feel more prepared to respond to a suspected opioid overdose through naloxone education, staff readiness support, and connection to local overdose prevention resources.
Helping local businesses be ready when seconds matter
Overdose can happen anywhere. Staff at bars, restaurants, music venues, and other community spaces may be the first people nearby when someone is in distress. This program helps participating locations build basic overdose response confidence in a practical, supportive, and nonjudgmental way.
The goal is simple: increase naloxone access, improve staff readiness, reduce stigma, and help more people survive overdose emergencies.
What RAW can offer participating locations
This initiative is designed for local bars, restaurants, and similar businesses that want staff to feel more prepared and less afraid if a suspected opioid overdose happens nearby.
Naloxone education
Staff can receive basic education on overdose recognition, calling 911, rescue breathing basics, naloxone administration, and what to do after naloxone is used.
Practical response support
RAW can help your team think through where naloxone is kept, who knows where it is, and how staff can respond quickly and calmly in an emergency.
Naloxone access
When available through RAW’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Program supplies, naloxone may be provided to participating locations for overdose response readiness.
What the training covers
Trainings are educational and harm-reduction focused. They are not medical care, and they do not replace emergency services. Staff should call 911 during a suspected overdose.
Signs of a possible overdose
Staff learn common signs of a possible opioid overdose, including loss of consciousness, slow or stopped breathing, gurgling or choking sounds, limp body, and pinpoint pupils.
What to do next
Staff learn the basics of responding: check for responsiveness, call 911, give naloxone, provide rescue breathing support when appropriate, and stay with the person until help arrives.
Naloxone is safe and saves lives
Naloxone is used to reverse opioid overdose. It can restore breathing when someone’s breathing has slowed or stopped because of opioids, including fentanyl.
Interested in a public NaloxBox?
Some locations may also want a public naloxone box installed at their business. RAW can share public information about Monroe County’s NaloxBox program, but this is separate from RAW’s Bar & Restaurant Naloxone Readiness Program.
Important note
RAW is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or formally partnered with the Monroe County Department of Public Health or the Monroe County IMPACT Team through this initiative. We are simply sharing publicly available information for businesses that want to explore a NaloxBox installation.
Monroe County NaloxBox
Monroe County’s IMPACT Team coordinates NaloxBox installation and training through their own program. Businesses interested in a NaloxBox can contact the county directly.
- Email: IMPACT@monroecounty.gov
- Phone: 585-753-5300
- Website: monroecounty.gov/health-impact
Public box or internal readiness
Not every business wants public signage or a public box. That is okay. RAW can still offer staff training and naloxone readiness support for locations that prefer an internal-only approach.
Who this is for
This program is for local businesses and community spaces that want to be better prepared to respond with care during a suspected overdose.
- Bars and restaurants
- Nightlife spaces
- Music and entertainment venues
- Cafes, social spaces, and gathering places
- Businesses that want staff to feel more prepared in an emergency
This program is rooted in trauma-informed, non-stigmatizing harm reduction. We are here to support safety, dignity, and practical readiness — not judgment.
What participating locations can expect
Connect with Susan
Reach out to Susan to share your business name, location, and what kind of support you are looking for.
Schedule a training
Susan will coordinate a short, practical training or readiness conversation for your team.
Build readiness
Your team will leave with clearer information about overdose response, naloxone use, and how to stay connected for follow-up or restock needs.
Bring naloxone readiness to your business
If your bar, restaurant, venue, or business is interested in naloxone training or overdose readiness support, contact Susan with Recovery All Ways.
Program Contact
Susan Makarewicz
smakarewicz@recoveryallways.org
Prepared staff can help save lives.
Naloxone readiness is one more way our community can respond with care, dignity, and urgency. Whether your location wants staff training, naloxone basics, or information about public NaloxBox options, RAW can help you take the next step.