Davis Schneider Joins Emergent To Promote NARCAN Nasal Spray
davis schneider has partnered with Emergent BioSolutions to raise awareness of NARCAN® Nasal Spray among Canadians, using his family’s story to push the message that people should be prepared for an opioid emergency. The announcement came April 29, 2026, as the company aimed to break down stigma around opioid poisonings.
Schneider lost his brother Steven unexpectedly in 2020. He tied that loss to the campaign with three blunt lines: “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.” “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.”
Steven’s story and Emergent
Emergent said Schneider’s story is part of its Opioid Crisis Impact Map, an interactive platform that highlights lived experiences from across Canada and illustrates the toll of the opioid crisis. Paul Williams said the company is focused on breaking down stigma and improving access and awareness of NARCAN® Nasal Spray, while also thanking Schneider for sharing Steven’s story and helping elevate the conversation.
The campaign lands against a grim backdrop. Canada continues to face an opioid poisoning epidemic with an average of 17 lives lost each day, and more than 53,000 lives have been lost nationwide since 2016. Emergent described opioid poisoning as the deadliest drug epidemic in Canadian history.
NARCAN access across Canada
NARCAN® Nasal Spray can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in minutes. Emergent has delivered more than 100 million doses since 2018 to people, communities and businesses across Canada and the U.S., and it says the product can be accessed at no cost by residents of Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon through provincial and territorial take-home naloxone or equivalent programs.
It is also available through Veteran Affairs Canada, First Nations Health Authority and Non-Insured Health Benefits, with online ordering available at OrderNARCAN.ca. The practical takeaway for Canadians is simple: the product is already in multiple public programs, and Schneider’s message is aimed at getting more people to know where it is and how to use it before they need it.
