North Central Health District

North Central Health District Partnering with Community Groups to Offer Overdose Prevention and Narcan Training

Posted October 3, 2024 by Michael Hokanson

North Central Health District’s (NCHD) Overdose Prevention Program is teaming up with Macon Recovers RCO, Georgia Overdose Prevention and the Moonhanger Group to offer overdose prevention and Narcan training to the community.

This educational opportunity is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 3 p.m. at The Rookery, 543 Cherry St., Macon. While the event will be focused on training employees of the service industry, all community members are welcome to attend.

“We realize that our service industry workers are now acting as first responders in this ongoing overdose epidemic,” said Andy Gish, Executive Director of Georgia Overdose Prevention. “We understand this is not something you were trained to do. We welcome you to come and learn how to recognize and treat an overdose.”

The misuse of prescription medication and opioid-based drugs has increased significantly over the years to become a public health concern in Georgia. According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, opioid-involved overdose deaths have been rapidly increasing in Georgia since 2010, driven largely by increased use and misuse of prescription opioids. Beginning in 2020, drug overdoses sharply increased due to the increased presence of fentanyl in in illicit drugs, including in stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine.

Opioid drugs pose the danger of accidental overdose, which can stop breathing and can lead to permanent organ damage or death. Naloxone (Narcan is a brand) can block or reverse the effects of opioid overdoses. It is a short-term measure to an overdose and can help provide time for medical professionals to respond to an overdose. This event will teach attendees how to recognize and respond to overdoses and help reduce the chance of an overdose-related death.

NCHD’s Overdose Prevention Program aims to address the opioid crisis by building and fostering partnerships, providing comprehensive and timely overdose data and implementing prevention and response interventions within at-risk counties and among high-risk individuals. Between 2022 and 2024, the program has distributed over 2,800 Naloxone kits, over 550 fentanyl test strips and has hosted over 1,700 trainings.

“If you are an individual at risk for overdose, or have a family member or friend at risk, you can visit this event and leave with a free naloxone kit while supplies last,” Marissa Cooling, NCHD Overdose Surveillance & Planning Specialist.

For more information on overdose prevention, visit NCHD52.org/opioid. You can access additional resources, including surveillance data at dph.georgia.gov/epidemiology/drug-surveillance.