Local naloxone distribution program expands into adjacent counties
DOVER (WJER) (July 7, 2023) – Folks living in Carroll and Harrison counties no longer have to travel to Dover to pick up a free overdose reversal kit.
The Tuscarawas County Health Department is using a federal grant to make it easier for residents of those two counties to take advantage of the Project DAWN program. Coordinator Lakyn Craig says the naloxone kits that have been saving lives in our area since 2016 are now available on a walk-up basis from the general health districts serving both communities.
“Folks will receive a short training from health department staff. It will take around 10 minutes or less. They’ll walk them through the signs and symptoms of an overdose, what to look for, to call emergency services through 911, and then how to administer a naloxone kit, or they can even watch a short video online on our website.”
Before this, people outside of Tuscarawas County had to visit the agency’s East Iron Avenue headquarters or request a Project DAWN kit online. The 553 kits the health department distributed through the program last year resulted in 62 recorded overdose reversals, and Craig hopes to see even more lives saved because of the expansion.
“We’re really excited to get naloxone distribution increased through our whole region, not just in Tuscarawas County. We would love to increase distribution throughout the whole state, so we’re really trying to do our part here at the Tuscarawas County Health Department by expanding to other local health departments that don’t have the same grant that we do.”
Each kit includes two Naloxone doses, a face shield, and two pairs of gloves. The health department suggests picking one up if you spend time with someone who has an active opioid addiction, is in recovery, or takes prescription painkillers.