By Victoria Dondero / Digital Producer & Editor
The Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission wants the residents of Bucks County to know, the life-saving drug, Narcan (Naloxone) is available and cost free to every single resident-including college students.
Narcan is a drug that can reverse the onset of an opioid overdose.
The Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission set up an information table during an addiction-awareness panel at Delaware Valley University to inform the public of what the life-saving drug, Narcan can do and how it works. The group distributed free Narcan kits, sharing the local agency’s goal is to reduce the use of the use of opioids and reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal overdoses.
Diane Rosati, the executive director of the BCDAC says the that the difference of Narcan can mean life or death for drug users and the difference of having Narcan on hand can,”help someone make it to their next birthday.”
After a person suffers an overdose, the BCDAC doesn’t stop at providing the Narcan kits. A team, called BCARES, runs a program through the BCDAC called “a warm handoff” to provide substance abuser an option to get help after and overdose and provide programs that will help them take the next step to recovery.
An unfortunate rise of a large animal tranquilizer called Xylazine, has emerged and money users are adding it to drugs they are already abusing to try to intensify the effect of the drug or drugs they are abusing. Xylazine is used to extend the feeling that illegal substances give when the user takes them. If Xylazine is taken on its own, Narcan is not effective in reversing the overdose. Rosati informed that most drug users use a “cocktail” of sorts mixing multiple drugs at a time. That is why it can never hurt to administer Narcan someone if they appear to be overdosing.
The BCDAC offers more than just Narcan to the community. They plan “take back” events to promote the drop off of unused medication and why it can be so dangerous to keep it in the house if not being used.
The help doesn’t stop there. They also provide support to the community and residents and inform that they are there to provide assistance to those in need. Their tagline reads “We are here to help,” and that is proven through their many resources and support they offer the community. Many different school panels are available for the younger generation to prevent substance abuse. As well, they coordinate after school programs that aid in the prevention.
Distribution events and trainings on how to use Narcan and how to prepare for a situation where they may have to use it are also available to community members.
It is more than just opioid abusers that need Narcan; everyone should have it.
Situations could arise where a person of an older age can’t remember if they took a medication or not and overdose that way, or a child who comes home from surgery doesn’t get the correct dose, or accidentally overdoses. In these cases as well as substance abuse overdoses shows how important it is for every person to carry a Narcan Kit.
In a Narcan Kit provided by the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol commission, you will find multiple tools that will assist you if you around someone who is experiencing a opioid overdose. Alcohol Wipes, a face shield, rubber gloves, a magnet to keep in your home of steps if a person is overdosing, a pamphlet to guide you through the steps of how to properly take action in the situation and finally, two doses of Narcan.
Most importantly, there is never a shortage of Narcan and they aim to have every community member informed and ready for these types of situations.
Note: Narcan is temperature sensitive and cannot be exposed to extreme temperatures, so be especially careful not to store your kit in your car. A good place to carry it would be on a key chain or in a purse.
Every home is urged to keep Narcan kits on hand to help reduce fatal overdoses. There are three locations in Bucks County where you can pick up your kit today.
Narcan is available for pick-up on Mondays and Tuesdays between 10 am and 2 pm at the Bucks County Human Services Navigational Hub (55 E. Court Street, 1st Floor, Doylestown) through BCDAC, Inc.
Southern Bucks Recovery Community Center
1286 Veterans Hwy, Bristol, PA 19007
St. Luke’s Penn Foundation Recovery Center Outpatient Building
807 Lawn Ave, Sellersville, PA 18960
Monday – Thursday, 9 am – 8 pm | Friday, 9 am – 4 pm
Follow the Bucks County Drug & Alcohol Commission on Socials @BCDACinc