Free Narcan training set for June 2 in Greenwood
Accidental opioid overdose continues to be a problem in both Clark County and in Wisconsin. In 2019 alone, 916 Wisconsinites died as a result of an opioid overdose (Wisconsin Department of Health Services, 2021).
In order to help counter this, the Clark County Prevention Partnership (CCPP) will be hosting a free training on nasal Narcan administration. After participants are trained, they will receive free doses of Narcan to take home with them.
Narcan is the drug that is used to reverse an opioid overdose. Opioids are a class of drug that include legal prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin ®), codeine, morphine, and many others. Opioids can also come in synthetic or illegal forms such as fentanyl (synthetic) and heroin (illegal).
When too much of a drug is ingested, an overdose can occur. Both prescription pain medications and illegal drugs can cause overdoses.
Opioids affect the part of the brain that is responsible for breathing. In excess, opioids can cause a person’s breathing to become slow or completely stop, sometimes causing death. Permanent brain damage begins after only four minutes without oxygen and death can occur as soon as four to six minutes later.
The Narcan training will take place on Wednesday, June 2, from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m., at the Greenwood Fire Station located at 103 Cannery St., Greenwood.
The CCPP does not discriminate against legal or illegal drug users. Any Clark County community member who is concerned about a potential overdose is welcome to attend. Attendees will learn how opioids affect the body, how to respond to a potential overdose, and how to administer nasal Narcan.
Registration is not required, but it is recommended. To register, contact Rebecca Greisen at 715-743-5110 (landline) or rebecca.greisen@co.clark.wi.us.
“The opportunity to train and get free Narcan into the hands of community members is made possible through the Narcan Direct Program. This program is statewide and was formed after the Wisconsin Department of Health Services contracted with Adapt Pharma in 2019,” said Greisen, the Clark County Health Department’s health educator/ public health specialist.
To date, the Clark County Health Department has trained nine Clark County agencies in nasal Narcan administration, including law enforcement, EMS, and Social Services.
“Our next step is to train community members who might be at risk of an opioid overdose, or who may have friends or family members at risk,” Greisen said “Our ultimate goal here is to save lives.”
