Intern Spotlight: Rylynn Merz

End Overdose's work in Arkansas is made possible by interns and volunteers across the state. Some of them are training attendees at festivals on how to respond to an overdose, while others are packing naloxone kits in our office well into the evening hours. We want to shine a light on the people whose efforts make our resources free and accessible to all, so we’re excited to share our Arkansas Volunteer of the Week: Rylynn Merz!

Rylynn is a senior at the University of Arkansas majoring in Public Health and working toward securing her Bachelors of Science in Nursing once she graduates from UA. We spoke with Rylynn to discuss her academic efforts, what inspired her to pursue an internship with End Overdose, her favorite memories of interning to date, and much more!

Can you tell us about yourself and your story?

My name is Rylynn Merz, I am currently a senior at the University of Arkansas majoring in Public Health. My plan is to continue my education after graduation and get my Bachelors of Science in Nursing in Texas, where I'm from. Getting my degree in public health has given me a strong foundation and broader understanding of health and healthcare that I'm grateful to take with me in my future path. I'm inspired to continue in the healthcare path and to make an impact on people's lives throughout my career and life.

What inspired you to intern with End Overdose?

I chose to intern with End Overdose because I wanted to be involved in prevention and outreach, and this seemed like the best setting. I loved that this organization is a non- profit and focused on saving lives and making overdose prevention resources more accessible. I think that working to help people and prevent overdoses one person at a time is really impactful, and I'm glad that I was given the opportunity to be a part of it.

What’re your favorite memories of interning with End Overdose so far?

My favorite part of interning with End Overdose has definitely been the people. Working with Sierra Jeans and my peer Aubrey Smith has made this experience so fun. They have created a supportive and engaging space where we were able to focus on prevention and outreach across the state of Arkansas. We have worked hard to do a lot of outreach work for Arkansas colleges, and I feel like we have and will impact many students about overdose prevention. 

What do you hope to see for the future of overdose prevention and response in Arkansas?

I hope that in the future, overdose prevention will become more accessible and normalized across Arkansas and even throughout the US. Increasing access to resources like naloxone, reducing the stigma around substance use, and expanding education would create a much better environment for drug users, and getting the help they need. I also think it's important for colleges to build strong connections with organizations and communities so that resources are more widely known. I think End Overdose is doing great things and I can't wait to see the future of what this organization will accomplish!