Learning Together
for Harm Reduction
This student-led project aims to bridge the gap between education and action. Through digital media competitions and community seminars, BigHug works to share opioid prevention information with students, parents, Korean immigrant families, and the broader Eastside community.
About BigHug
BigHug is a community-based nonprofit organization that supports immigrant families, youth leadership, and cross-cultural connection through education and community engagement.
As part of its ongoing youth leadership efforts, BigHug launched a pilot initiative called the “Youth Impact Lab – Opioid Education & Prevention” in partnership with local community organizations and public health advocates.
The project is based on a simple belief: education and open conversation can help prevent harm before it begins.
Through this student-led pilot program, youth participants learn about opioid awareness, public health resources such as Naloxone, and the importance of culturally accessible education. Students then help share that information through digital content, peer outreach, and community-based discussions.
The initiative is designed to reach students, parents, Korean immigrant families, and the broader Eastside community — especially communities that may face language, cultural, or information barriers when accessing prevention and health education resources.
Our Prevention ProgramsOpioid Information
Opioids are the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Understanding what they are and what to do in an emergency is the first step toward prevention.
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are legally used in medicine as powerful painkillers. They are also the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States, claiming more than 200 lives every day.
Morphine: C₁₇H₁₉NO₃ | Heroin: C₂₁H₂₃NO₅How Opioids Kill
Opioids kill by causing respiratory failure and lung arrest, suffocating the user. Side effects of overdose include:
- Drastically slowed or stopped breathing
- Brain damage from oxygen deprivation
- Cardiac arrest
- Coma or death
Common Side Effects
- Drowsiness and confusion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation
- Euphoria
- Slowed breathing → brain damage, coma, or death
Signs of an Overdose
- Unresponsive or unconscious
- Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
- Choking or gurgling sounds
- Blue or purple lips and fingernails
- Pinpoint (very small) pupils
- Pale, clammy skin
Naloxone (Narcan)
Naloxone rapidly reverses an opioid overdose because it acts as a natural opioid antagonist, blocking opioid receptors and restoring normal breathing within minutes.
Chemical formula: C₁₉H₂₁NO₄·HClIt is available free in Washington State with no prescription needed.
Washington State Data
Real-time opioid data for Washington State and King County:
- King County deaths declined 4% (2022–2023)
- Some opioid types still rising at different rates
- 2025 data available from WA DOH
By the Numbers
National Crisis
Approximately 105,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2023. Nearly 80,000 of those deaths, about 76%, involved opioids. (CDC)
Some Progress
The opioid overdose death rate declined 4% from 2022 to 2023, however but deaths involving various types of opioids are declining at different rates. (CDC)
25 Years of Crisis
About 806,000 people died from an opioid overdose between 1999 and 2023. The 2023 death toll was nearly 10 times the number in 1999. (CDC)
King County (2025 Data)
Opioid overdose deaths declined 4% from 2022 to 2023 in King County, though the number of deaths involving some opioid types continues to rise. (WA DOH)
Prevention Programs & Resources
There are many comprehensive resources for opioid prevention, harm reduction, and recovery available for free in Washington State.
Naloxone (Narcan), Free in Washington State
Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It is available through the WA State Naloxone Standing Order, allowing pharmacies and other entities can dispense naloxone to eligible persons without a prescription.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free, confidential 24/7 crisis support for people in mental health distress, including substance use crises. Call or text 988 anytime from anywhere in the US.
NEXT Distro
An online and mail-based harm reduction service designed to reduce opioid overdose death. Order free Naloxone and harm reduction supplies delivered to your door.
Visit NEXT Distro →WA State Opioid Response (SOOR)
The WA State Health Care Authority’s State Opioid and Overdose Response Plan; Statewide strategies, data, and community resources for the opioid crisis.
View SOOR Plan →WA Prescription Monitoring Program
A state database tracking prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances, helping healthcare providers and pharmacists identify misuse and support patients safely.
Learn about PMP →SAMHSA: HCA Opioid Prevention
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides information on mental health, drug use disorders, prevention, treatment, and recovery services nationwide.
Communities That Care (CTC)
A community-based prevention system that helps communities assess risk factors for youth substance use and implement evidence-based prevention programs tailored to local needs.
Learn about CTC →Digital Media Competition
BigHug is hosting a digital media-based competition open to students in the Eastside community! Students will compete by creating educational videos on what they’ve learned about opioids through BigHug’s efforts.
All content will be strictly verified for factual accuracy, as we will not allow misleading information to reach the community. Students work in teams, and the top 3 teams with the most views, likes, and shares will win.
Content Ideas
- Short educational videos
- Social media awareness posts
- Educational messages & infographics
Topics to Cover
- What are opioids?
- Types of opioids and chemical makeup
- Facts and statistics on opioids
- Overdose prevention strategies
- Signs of an overdose
- How to access free Naloxone (Narcan)
Judged On
- Total views on submitted content
- Likes and community engagement
- Shares and reach
- Factual accuracy (strictly verified)
Events & Seminars
Deepen your understanding of opioid prevention and community health through our upcoming seminars. Live Q&A sessions ensure clarity and encourage active engagement.
BigHug Kickoff Event
Join us for BigHug’s kickoff event in the form of an introduction to our student-led opioid prevention initiative! Learn about our goals, meet the team, and find out how you can get involved as a student, parent, or community member.
Get in Touch →More events and seminars are being planned. Check back here or contact us for updates.
About Our Seminars
Through BigHug’s Youth Impact Lab, students are learning and sharing information as live Q&A experiences, not just lectures. The aim is to make sure every attendee leaves with clarity, practical knowledge, and the confidence to act in an emergency.
Content is designed to be culturally relevant and accessible to Korean immigrant families and the broader Eastside community, with an emphasis on addressing cultural and language barriers to opioid prevention information.
Target Audience
What You’ll Learn
- What opioids are and how they affect the body
- How to recognize the signs of an overdose
- How to administer Naloxone (Narcan)
- Washington State resources for prevention & recovery
- How to talk about opioids with family members
- Community-specific risk factors and protective measures
- Live Q&A with prevention experts
Voices of the Community
Personal experiences and perspectives from students, parents, Korean immigrant families, and the broader Eastside community, including stories from those who have been affected by opioids. Their voices matter.
Finding a community that understands the struggle was the first step toward healing. BigHug provided the tools I needed to speak up and take action for my family.
Education is the best prevention. I learned how to recognize the signs of an overdose before it was too late for someone in my family. This knowledge saved a life.
Sharing my story helps others feel less alone. We are all part of a larger community that is fighting together for a healthier and safer future in Bellevue.
The seminars at BigHug were eye-opening. I now have a much better understanding of the resources available for my peers. I feel empowered to actually help.
Get in Touch
Questions about our project, the competition, or upcoming events? Want to share your story or get involved with BigHug? We’d love to hear from you.
SAMHSA National Helpline: Free, confidential, 24/7 information on mental health and drug use disorders, prevention, and recovery.
1-800-662-4357 →Send Us a Message
Send us a message — your submission goes directly to BigHug via HubSpot. We’ll get back to you soon.
Sources & References
The opioid statistics and public health information shared on this site are drawn from the following publicly available sources. We are a student-led project and encourage you to consult these primary sources directly.
CDC
Drug Overdose Deaths in the US: national statistics on opioid overdose deaths, trends from 1999–2023, and the 4% rate decline from 2022–2023.
CDC Drug Overdose Data →Washington State Dept. of Health
Washington State opioid and overdose data, including King County trends and the WA State Standing Order for Naloxone dispensing.
WA Overdose Dashboard →NIDA
National Institute on Drug Abuse: information on opioids, naloxone, treatment, and the science of addiction.
NIDA Opioids Overview →SAMHSA
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: national helpline, treatment locator, and opioid crisis resources.
SAMHSA Opioids Resources →WA Health Care Authority
Washington State’s Opioid and Overdose Response (SOOR) Plan: statewide prevention strategies and community resources.
WA SOOR Plan →This website was created by students for educational purposes. It does not constitute medical or professional advice. If you or someone you know is experiencing an overdose or crisis, call 911 or 988 immediately.
Credits
This project was made possible by these students of Tesla STEM HS, via BigHug’s Youth Impact Lab.
Andrew Zhang – Backend & Supplemental Programming
Maxim Rotkin – Quality Assurance
Maximillian Uypeckcuat – Data Handler, Researcher
Aarav Jain – Frontend Programming