Piscataway High School senior Tanvi Narava is continuing to raise awareness about the dangers of opioid use and inspiring others to join her mission for healthier communities.

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project — a prestigious honor that recognizes leadership and community service — Narava collaborated with the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey to develop an informative and engaging webinar for its Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day initiative.

"I want to make everyone life savers," Narava said. "I want my peers and those that watch this webinar to feel that they can and should spread important information about opioids with their family and friends and help save a life if they witness an overdose."

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In addition to her work with PDFNJ, Narava’s overdose project, "Renew You: Embrace You," has been selected to be showcased at Duke University's MaryAnn Black Distinguished Health Equity Symposium on Feb. 7, 2025.

This symposium, hosted by the Duke Cancer Institute, focuses on advancing health equity and addressing disparities in healthcare. Narava said she is honored to participate in such a prestigious event because it is a meaningful recognition of her commitment to promoting equitable access to healthcare resources.

Last summer, Narava had hosted a special ceremony to spread awareness about the dangers of drug overdoses. On Aug. 15, she planted 45 white flags in Columbus Park near New Market Pond representing 45 overdose deaths in Piscataway from 2019 to 2024, and 200 purple flags representing total overdoses during that time.

The event was also part of her Gold Award Project, which requires 80 hours toward her service project. That event was co-sponsored by Piscataway Township and Wellspring Prevention.

“I wanted to take a moment," she said in August, "to remember the lives that have been affected."