Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE: EBS) announced a partnership with professional baseball player Davis Schneider to promote awareness of NARCAN Nasal Spray among Canadians. The collaboration aims to educate the public about opioid overdose response and reduce stigma surrounding opioid poisonings.

Schneider, whose brother Steven died in 2020, will share his family's story as part of Emergent's Opioid Crisis Impact Map, an interactive platform featuring experiences from across the country. Canada faces an ongoing opioid crisis with an average of 17 deaths daily and more than 53,000 lives lost since 2016, according to the press release.

"Steven always inspired me to be a good person. You might never know what someone else is going through, so it's important to be prepared," Schneider said. "That's why I've partnered with Emergent to encourage every person, parent and family to be prepared to help save a life in an opioid emergency."

NARCAN Nasal Spray is designed to reverse opioid overdoses within minutes. The medication is available at no cost to residents of Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon through provincial and territorial naloxone programs. It can also be accessed through Veteran Affairs Canada, First Nations Health Authority and Non-Insured Health Benefits programs.

Since 2018, Emergent has distributed more than 100 million doses of NARCAN Nasal Spray across Canada and the United States. The product can be ordered online at OrderNARCAN.ca and is indicated for emergency use in known or suspected opioid overdoses.

"We're focused on doing our part to break down stigma and improve access and awareness of NARCAN Nasal Spray," said Paul Williams, senior vice president at Emergent. The company emphasizes that while the nasal spray can be administered by non-healthcare professionals, it is not a substitute for professional medical care, and emergency services should always be contacted when an overdose is suspected.