Life Saving Naloxone Now Available in Summit County Interior AED Cabinets

Jul 19, 2023

Starting Hearts and Summit County Public Health Department team up to place life-saving narcan

Vail, Colorado Jul 19, 2023 (Issuewire.com) - Starting Hearts and the Summit County Public Health Department have placed lifesaving Naloxone, also known as Narcan or Kloxxado, in publicly accessible indoor AED cabinets across Summit County.

Naloxone is a safe, life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose of opioids--including heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioid medications--when given in time. Naloxone is easy to use without medical training or authorization by citizen responders.

Fentanyl is a very potent and dangerous synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is manufactured and distributed through illegal markets including social media platforms and is often added to many other illicit drugs and fake pills, like heroin, cocaine, meth, oxycodone, Xanax, Adderall, etc. because it is cheap to produce. This makes these drugs cheaper, more powerful, more addictive, and more dangerous. Fentanyl is the number one cause of death in 18-45-year-olds. Studies show communities that are saturated with naloxone have fewer overdose deaths.

Naloxone quickly reverses an overdose by blocking the effects of opioids. It can restore normal breathing within 2 to 3 minutes in a person whose breath has slowed, or even stopped, because of opioid overdose. More than one dose of Naloxone may be required when stronger opioids like fentanyl are involved. Naloxone won't harm someone overdosing on drugs other than opioids, so it's always best to use it if you think someone may be suffering a drug overdose.

Good Samaritan laws are in place in most states, including Colorado, to protect those who are overdosing and anyone assisting them in an emergency from arrest, charges, or a combination of these.

Starting Hearts and Summit County Public Health are authorized by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to obtain and distribute naloxone as part of the state-wide naloxone bulk program. Colorado Senate Bill 19-227 created the Opiate Antagonist - Naloxone Bulk Purchase Fund to allow eligible entities to purchase opiate antagonists at low or no cost.

"When we're talking about opioid overdose, minutes really count, especially with fentanyl, which is now the leading drug involved in fatal overdose in the U.S.," said Amy Wineland, Summit County Public Health Director. "I am grateful for the partnership with Starting Hearts and commend them for taking this proactive step to save lives by making naloxone readily available throughout our community."

Starting Hearts incorporates opioid education and naloxone administration in all their high school and adult CPR-related classes, as well as distributes naloxone to adults who request it.

Alan Himelfarb, Executive Director of Starting Hearts stated, "Opioid overdose often leads to sudden cardiac arrest and death. For Starting Hearts, this initiative to place naloxone in defibrillator cabinets throughout the county is an essential step in saving the precious lives of our citizens and visitors. We greatly appreciate the partnership with Summit County Public Health and CDPHE for their support in this important effort to improve safety here at home."

Maggie Seldeen, President and Founder of High Rockies Harm Reduction, and Starting Hearts board member added, "I am so excited to see public access to naloxone increasing in our rural communities and the naloxone sticker on the front of the AED cabinets alerts people that opioid overdose rescue is available."

Starting Hearts, Summit County Public Health and the Summit County Sheriff's Office have free naloxone on hand for the public. Naloxone is also available for sale without a prescription at local pharmacies.

To obtain naloxone or request training, please contact: Summit County Public Health 360 Peak One Drive, Suite 230 Frisco, CO 80443 (970) 668-9161.