In 2021, drag queen Kochina Rude started a trend of giving out Narcan at drag shows, saving the lives of countless patrons, according to an investigation from The Advocate. A particular specialty of hers involves teaching people how to properly use it.
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“As a trans feminine actress, I was convinced this wasn’t possible,” the drag superstar said of her burgeoning Broadway career.
“I realized that my community was not getting the information they needed about how to reverse an overdose,” Rude said to The Advocate. “As an adjunct trainer with the SF Drug Overdose Prevention and Education (D.O.P.E.) Project and a host of the biggest drag show in the Bay Area, I was in a unique position to engage queer audiences about practicing safer drug use.”
Rude promptly started distributing Narcan at performances, quickly blocking any effects of a potential drug overdose. She gives audiences a demonstration while managing to maintain the show’s vibe, and still educating hundreds. Her method is unique—she explains it to the audience like they’re five, keeping the information simple and encouraging participation while cracking jokes.
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She is now backed by San Francisco public health officials. She uses her platform to also address the stigma against drug users, recognizing addiction as an illness rather than a choice as some believe. “I want to remind my community that there is no moral difference between a weekend warrior snorting bumps of cocaine on the dance floor versus a homeless person smoking fentanyl on a street corner,” she explained. “When I say ‘don’t judge drug users,’ I actually mean all drug users, not just people doing ketamine in the club bathroom on Saturday nights.”
She explained her philosophy as one of internal community protection. “As queer people, we are already used to facing stigma from the straight world, just by being our authentic selves,” Rude said in her interview. “We are also accustomed to dealing with health crises that disproportionately affect us, such as HIV, AIDS, and [Mpox]. For this reason, I believe we are uniquely prepared to address the issue of overdoses in our community.”
“We have an opportunity to save our own lives by doing what we’ve always done: sharing knowledge and educating each other about safer practices, breaking down stigma related to drug use, and caring for each other without judgment.”
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