We had the good fortune of connecting with Nathan Smiddy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nathan, the decisions we make often shape our story in profound ways. What was one of the most difficult decisions you’ve had to make?
The most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make was when I quit my 9-5 job for 4 months to focus on the community outreach work that I do in the community. I had this overwhelming feeling that this work was my calling and that I could make more of an impact if I had more time. After some consideration, I put in my notice and left my job along with my financial stability. I was scared to death. I wondered for months if I made the right decision.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I educate individuals/groups on the opioid epidemic the country is currently facing. I do this by sharing content about my own lived experiences as someone who used opiates for 8 years and overdosed multiple times. I also share statistics about where the country is currently at with our battle with the opioid epidemic. I also help others acquire Narcan and other resources who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them. The main thing I do is provide Narcan trainings to groups or individuals all over the state of California. Upon completion of the training the individuals receive Narcan. These trainings are free for anyone. I’ve helped save over 160+ lives in the local area within the last 6 months.

The thing that sets me apart the most would be my why. I was actively using, and I found my friend overdosed in the sober living we were at. I didn’t know of any Narcan in the house. I also didn’t want either of us to go to jail because I wasn’t aware of the Good Samaritan Law at the time. I almost let my friend die that night because of that but I eventually called 911 and his life was saved. So, I made it my mission in life when got clean in 2018 to make sure no one else ever had to have my experience if possible. My why keeps me motivated and I put in a lot of hours to keep my momentum going at the rate it is.

The thing I’m most excited about is the future. I’m getting more and more people reaching out to me inquiring about Narcan and I think I’m slowly changing individuals outlook on harm reduction due to my lived experiences and the education I provide around it.

I got to where I’m at today through a lot of hard work and help from others. I could never do what I’m doing on my own. I sent emails for 6 months before getting in touch with April at A New Path. She brought me on as a trainer and I bought a car and went into debt to be able to do what I’m doing. I’ve been all in since the beginning. None of this has been easy. I’ve took a lot of risks financially and sacrificed a lot of time doing the work it took to get here and grow. None of this has been easy, whether it’s the stigma around what I do or dealing with others being critical around the work that I do. I kept my head down and focused on the positive things that were a result of what I’m doing. One thing I’ve learned is that no matter what you do someone will have something negative to say. That’s ok though, that’s not a reflection of me and honestly, they’re entitled to feel that way. I’ve learned to let things just roll off my shoulders and not let negativity rent space in my head for free.

I have been doing this work long before a camera or an interview came along. I would still be doing this regardless of if I ever got noticed. This work is personal to me, and I genuinely love helping people. I love meeting people where they’re at and supporting them just as they are because that’s what I needed. I just want people to have a second chance at life and be afforded the opportunity to live two lives in one lifetime

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to some of the local skate parks. Prince and poods for sure. We would definitely be going to The Yellow Deli and Vigilucci’s for food. If it was baseball season we would definitely go to a Padres game and then hit little Italy for good cusine. It would be a must to go walk the pier in Oceanside and The Strand. We would also have to go hike to Potato Chip rock, swamis beach and sunset cliffs. Some of the most interesting, exciting and talented people I’ve met are at Artist Awakening in Oceanside at Artist Alley. So many talented artists and beautiful artwork. Always something there that an individual can appreciate.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First off and foremost none of this would be possible without my family’s unconditional love and support. They loved and supported me through 8 years of active drug addiction. Secondly, I wouldn’t be able to do the work I do without Gretchen, Vanessa and most importantly April at A New Path and New Path Narcan Project. They brought me on with their organization and gave me the freedom to do as much as I wanted knowing I represented them. They, especially April, gave me the opportunity to find my calling in life. My friends/support group Patrick, Justin, Baar, Dave, Cam, and Robert for supporting me in this journey. My friend Brandon for not only getting me in front of a camera and making me get outside of my comfort zone but for helping me with my first big interview! Lastly, Jordan with Humanity Showers for allowing me a space to come and make a difference in the community, for guiding me through the process of some difficult decisions and helping me elevate my outreach to a level I never imagined possible. Jordan and Brandon, both have helped me exponentially in the last 6 months. They both played a vital role in my success. They helped changed my life literally overnight.

Website: anewpath.org

Instagram: @narcan_nate @newpathnarcanproject

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natesnewpath?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B%2Bm5Rf0ivSX2eG%2Bl2N0RStA%3D%3D

Other: humanityshowers.org – Not my contact info but i volunteer with them and if possible would like for them to be recognized for they’ve played a huge part in my life.

Image Credits
Brandon O’connell and Jordan Verdin

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.