On June 19, 2025, a pivotal moment unfolded in Central Fresno at the intersection of Broadway Street and Nevada Avenue. The Zachary Horton Foundation’s sober living community, alongside residents and advocates from across the city, participated in the inaugural Narcan Education and Awareness Event—an initiative led by New Life Recovery, Fresno’s trusted provider of trauma-informed addiction treatment.
Hosted on the campus of New Life Recovery, the event was a testament to what collaboration can achieve. First responders, harm reduction advocates, and local residents came together with one mission: to save lives by making overdose reversal tools like Narcan accessible and understood.
Why Narcan Matters in Our Community Narcan (naloxone) is a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses within minutes. With fentanyl driving a spike in accidental deaths across California, Fresno has made some gains—fentanyl-related fatalities dropped from 114 in 2021 to 94 in 2023—but the urgency remains. Narcan can be the difference between tragedy and survival.
Ben Milam, co-founder of New Life Recovery’s addiction treatment center in Fresno, spoke directly to the stakes: “Teaching people when and how to use Narcan is important because you may be in a situation where you have to bring somebody back to life.”
Personal Stories that Inspire The event went beyond education. It became a platform for hope. Ben and his brother Jason, both now leaders at New Life Recovery, have personally experienced overdose—and survived thanks to Narcan. Ben’s occurred on Father’s Day years ago; Jason’s more recently in 2023 following a fentanyl relapse. Today, their work in the recovery field gives new meaning to their second chances.
Training That Saves Lives Attendees—including residents from Zach’s House sober living program—received expert training on recognizing opioid overdoses, properly administering Narcan, and how to act until EMS arrives. Everyone walked away not just with free Narcan kits, but with the ability to potentially save a life in their own community.
New Life Recovery: Fresno’s Hub for Holistic Healing More than a rehab facility, New Life Recovery is a comprehensive healing campus that offers detox, residential, and outpatient care in one location. Their approach to treatment is grounded in trauma-informed care and led by a team that includes clinical professionals and people in long-term recovery—like Ben and Jason—who understand the journey firsthand.
Zachary Horton Foundation’s Role in Prevention and Empowerment At Zach’s House on Ellery, we know that sober living is just one piece of the recovery journey. That’s why we proudly joined this event—to amplify harm reduction, promote education, and stand in solidarity with our neighbors at New Life Recovery.
Our commitment doesn’t stop at housing. Through partnerships like this, we help distribute Narcan, offer overdose response training, and empower people at every stage of recovery.
Take Action
- Visit New Life Recovery to explore their holistic treatment programs.
- Contact the Zachary Horton Foundation to learn about Narcan training and sober living support.
- Stay updated on future events and trainings by following us online.
Together, we are building a Fresno where recovery, education, and compassion walk hand in hand. One life, one kit, one moment of courage at a time.
Comments are closed