YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning County Public Health, the Youngstown City Health Department and Brightview Recovery will distribute free naloxone kits 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Richard W. and Eugenia C. Atkinson Recreation Center, 903 Otis St.

Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is an opiate reversal drug. When used during an overdose, naloxone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and quickly restores breathing, according to a press release announcing the event.

Naloxone is a safe, non-controlled drug and has no potential for abuse. If naloxone is given to a person who is not experiencing an opioid overdose, it is harmless, the release states.

Anyone can receive a free naloxone kit at the distribution events by participating in a short training.

The training includes identifying risk factors for opioid overdose, recognizing an overdose, calling emergency medical services, giving intranasal naloxone and monitoring the person until help arrives, according to the news release.

In nearly 40 percent of overdose deaths, a bystander was present and could have saved a life if he or she had naloxone available, the release states.

Naloxone or fentanyl test strips can also be obtained online by going to www.mahoninghealth.org/project-dawn.