NORTH CAROLINA -- Around 12,000 people have died from overdoses in North Carolina since 1999, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

But Naxolone has managed to prevent many deaths. 

Groups handing out kits for users to keep this week, in case of emergencies, were told to keep Naxolone kits regardless of the expiration date. 

Louise Vincent, Director of the Urban Survivors Union, says people can always come in an get more if they're worried about the expiration date, but as long as Narcan is around you should be in good shape.

Urban Survivors Union has given out more than 1,500 kits so far this year. 

They say 300 of them have been used to reverse overdoses.