February 18, 2020
By: Dwayne Page
Interested concerned citizens may receive some free instruction on recognizing the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose Tuesday, February 25 at the UT Extension meeting room in the county complex starting at 10:30 a.m.
The DeKalb Prevention Coalition will host a Community Naloxone (NARCAN) training session conducted by Suzanne Angel, Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist for the State of Tennessee Region 3 North.
Everyone is welcome. All attendees will receive a free Narcan kit.
Naloxone or Narcan Nasal Spray is recommended for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose. It has been proven to be an extremely effective medication that stops opioid overdoses and saves lives.. It can be sprayed into the nose of a person who has overdosed and it usually takes about two minutes to work. After administering Narcan to someone who has overdosed, the person will regain consciousness.
During Tuesday morning’s training, participants will be taught what to look for and how to react in the event they should encounter a friend, loved one, or stranger experiencing an opioid overdose.
“We are actually training them on Naloxone administration and we have overdose reversal kits for anyone who would like them,” said Angel.
“We are always concerned for the number of lives lost across the state due to accidental overdose. It is the number one cause of death among people under the age of 50 and it kills about 130 people a day. It kills more people than motor vehicle accidents and homicides combined and its killed more people in the last two years than died in the Vietnam War, “ Angel continued.
Angel encourages more people to get the Nalaxone training and the kits to be able to help someone if necessary.
“We can train anyone. It (Narcan) is available paid for by insurance. Physicians can provide it. Collaborative pharmacies sell it and bill insurance for it or you can go through the state program called the Tennessee Save a Life Program. Its free to participants and the kits are free,” added Angel.
“It’s simple to administer because what we have in our kits is a nasal spray so you don’t have to know how to give a shot or injection. It’s really simple but we do have a training to make sure everybody feels comfortable and knows what to do. And the Good Samaritan law in Tennessee protects anyone from any civil liability,” Angel said.
“Remember it (Narcan) only works for an opioid overdose although it won’t hurt anyone else who may have overdosed on something else such as alcohol or an anti-anxiety medicine. No matter what the situation always call 911 if you suspect an overdose or are not sure what’s wrong with them,” said Angel.
“Narcan is an emergency response to a medical life and death situation. It’s not a cure for addiction but you can’t get better if you are not breathing,” Angel concluded.