Drag queen and activist Kochina Rude didn’t plan to save a life at a party in 2021 — but she did. When someone overdosed, she sprang into action, using intranasal naloxone to reverse the effects. That moment changed everything. She says, “I realized that my community was not getting the information they needed about how to reverse an overdose.”
As both a nightlife star and a trainer with the SF Drug Overdose Prevention and Education (D.O.P.E.) Project, Rude decided to bridge that gap. She began handing out naloxone — often known by its brand name Narcan — at her shows, along with quick, simple lessons on how to use it. While teaching up to 500 club-goers every weekend isn’t easy, Rude keeps it light, fast, and fun.
Her work caught the attention of San Francisco officials. In 2023, the city launched the Overdose Prevention in Nightlife campaign, naming Rude as its drag ambassador. The campaign has since distributed nearly 400 doses of naloxone and trained over 1,200 nightlife attendees.
Dylan Rice of the city’s Entertainment Commission said, “This campaign has helped promote the message that… we’ve got each other’s backs.” Beyond the glam, Rude’s mission is clear: end the stigma around drug use and keep queer people safe.
