Neighborhood gets life-saving Narcan lesson (VIEW VIDEO HERE)

June 5, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

Concerned citizens got some instruction on recognizing the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose Tuesday night at the county complex.

The DeKalb Prevention Coalition hosted a Community Naloxone (NARCAN) training session conducted by Tommy and Suzanne Angel, Regional Overdose Prevention Specialists for the State of Tennessee Region 3 North.

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 night’s training, participants were 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 Suzanne 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.

“We are really concerned right now because since Memorial Day we have seen an increase in what we think are overdose deaths. It started in Memphis and then it hit in Franklin County and over the weekend we had 31 overdoses and 21 deaths in Davidson County so we’re on alert. We’re trying to let all our first responders, people who work in our recovery courts, treatment centers, hospitals, and anybody else know that they should be prepared so they can take precautions and one of the best things people can do is to be trained and know the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose and how to respond to that,” said Angel.

“We’re not exactly sure what this substance is that is causing such a large number of overdose deaths in Tennessee since Memorial Day so we just want everyone to be really cautious and we want people to get treatment and realize that recovery is real,” she said.

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.

June 4, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb County Clerk James L. (Jimmy) Poss is hosting an Organ & Tissue Donor Awareness event this month in conjunction with Donate Life Tennessee.

The public is invited to the event on Tuesday, June 18 from 6 until 7:30 p.m. at the County Complex at 712 South Congress Boulevard to learn more about the process and the need for organ and tissue donors.

Guest speakers will include those affected by organ donation and representatives of Donate Life Tennessee.

Among them will be Abby Malone, a soon to be freshman at Gordonsville High School this fall. She prepared an 8th grade 4-H interactive exhibit on transplants & organ donation and placed first in her club meeting, first in the county, and second at the regional level at Tennessee Tech University. Abby ‘s 8th grade 4-H speech also won first place in her club meeting and second place at the county level.

The subject of organ and tissue donation is special to Abby because her grandmother, Barbara Cantrell, received a life saving liver transplant in July of 2005 the week before Abby was born almost 14 years ago.

June 4, 2019
By: Dwayne Page

A Liberty woman involved in a recent crash has been charged with driving under the influence.

33 year old Makailah Marin McKinley was also cited for violation of the implied consent law and violation of the open container law. Her bond is $1,500 and she will make a court appearance June 13.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on May 24 a deputy was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash on Short Mountain Highway. During the officer’s investigation, he noticed that McKinley’s speech was slow and slurred and she performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. McKinley refused to submit to a blood test. She admitted to having consumed alcohol hours earlier along with her prescription medication. The deputy spotted three open containers of alcohol in the back seat of McKinley’s vehicle that she had tried to conceal.

Two men were charged with alcohol related offenses after a traffic stop on May 28.

28 year old John Wesley Curtis of Wade Street, Smithville was arrested for a second offense of driving under the influence. He was further cited for driving on roadways laned for travel.

38 year old Robert Dale Menzie of Dearman Street, Smithville, a passenger of Curtis’ vehicle, is charged with public intoxication and for resist stop, frisk, halt, arrest, or search. Bond for each is $5,000 and they will make a court appearance on June 13.

Sheriff Ray said that on May 28 a deputy conducted a traffic stop on a white Dodge Caravan for failing to maintain its lane of travel.

Curtis, the driver, had a strong odor of alcohol on him and he performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. He also had a prior DUI charge against him on March 26 2015.

After being instructed not to do so, Menzie got out of the vehicle. He had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on him and he was unsteady on his feet. After the officer placed Menzie under arrest, he began to resist.

40 year old Jamie Alan Willis of Toad Road, Dowelltown is charged with domestic assault. His bond is $3,500 and he will make a court appearance on June 13.

Sheriff Ray said on May 28 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Toad Road due to a domestic incident. Upon arrival he spoke with a woman who said she and her boyfriend, Willis had gotten into an argument over personal belongings. She said Willis then punched her in the nose and mouth.

74 year old Wanda Joyce Drake of McMinnville is charged with driving under the influence. Her bond is $1,500 and she will make a court appearance on June 13.

Sheriff Ray said that on June 2 a deputy was dispatched to the area of McMinnville Highway for a possible drunk driver and spotted a Ford Explorer on Congress Boulevard, driven by Drake. She was unsteady on her feet and her speech was slurred. Drake refused to submit to field sobriety tasks.

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