OCTOBER 13, 2025 – Since the launch of the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission, National Guard service members have administered Narcan to at least 18 individuals suffering drug overdoses in the District of Columbia – helping to save lives and build community trust in the mission.
Soldiers and Airmen trained in medical specialties, such as Army combat medics, are equipped with the life saving overdose-reversal drug as part of their onboarding before beginning patrols in D.C.
The drug is available widely for purchase over the counter, but those who are given the responsibility to carry it are still given training and resources, on a regular basis, to help orient them to the signs and symptoms one exhibits when experiencing a drug overdose, and how to administer the drug.
“All of our medical service members are highly trained and qualified to carry Narcan as part of their everyday duties,” explained U.S. Army Maj. Christopher Rowley, a Soldier in the District of Columbia National Guard’s medical detachment. “They know how to spot the signs, how to treat it, and how to monitor a patient post-administration.”
Narcan – also known as Naloxone – is mostly typically given as a nasal spray in a single dose. Overdoses from opioids; including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications can be treated with the drug.
U.S. Army Sgt. Andrew Fleischer and Spc. August Boatman of the South Carolina National Guard’s 4th Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment gave Narcan to an individual suffering from a drug overdose on Oct. 7 – the third person they treated in a matter of hours for a drug overdose in the District of Columbia’s Dupont Circle neighborhood. In all three incidents, the Soldiers contacted local emergency medical services to assist, and ultimately helped see to it that the patient they treated with Narcan was taken to a hospital for further treatment.
The pair serve as law enforcement officers on the civilian side, where they have become even more familiar with treating drug overdoses.
“It is good knowing that even though we are not out here trying to be super heroes… We are doing a little bit to help take pressure off the local first responders and assist them is valuable,” Fleischer explained.
He noted that he has observed 911 hold times dropping since he first started calling when he arrived on mission in August.
Service members’ ability to use life-saving drug treatment methods underscores what the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission is all about – Soldiers and Airmen using their skills, training, and compassion to protect the nation’s capital and the people who live, work, and visit.
Rowley notes that the successful use of Narcan shows that the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission has not only helped to protect the nation’s capital, but also to save lives within it.
“When we are talking about trying to keep D.C. safe and beautiful, part of that is to support our communities that we are here to serve by administering Narcan when appropriate,” he explained. “And by doing that, we help save lives. That is what the National Guard is for.”
Story by Sgt. Austin Goss
129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment