Collaborations Key to Opioid Overdose Prevention Efforts
Photo: Jessica Schermer, Program Manager CDC (left) and Terri Woodruff, Maine-ARC Co-Director, explore harm reduction materials at Healthy Acadia’s Machias location.
On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, our Washington County team based in our 121 Court Street, Machias location enjoyed a site visit from Jessica Schermer of Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Jessica is the Program Manager for a statewide effort to create and support community-based coalitions in the area of preventing opioid overdoses. Healthy Acadia is managing one such coalition in Washington County.
Through this program, we have been able to collaborate with local partners, such as Options, to distribute and install Naloxboxes to increase access to life-saving naloxone in public areas.
NaloxBoxes contain two doses of naloxone nasal spray, medication that rapidly reverses opioid overdose, and instructions for use. Similar to automated external defibrillators (AED), the boxes allow bystanders to help save lives until emergency personnel arrive on the scene.
Led by Healthy Acadia's Terri Woodruff, Co-Director of the Maine Alliance for Recovery Coaching, the program is working to increase programming for residents of the jail, create more community events such as the Recovery Walk, and conduct a countywide community needs assessment which will be underway soon. Jessica got to check out our very-organized supply of harm reduction materials, including lock bags, lock boxes, Deterra bags, Fentanyl test strips, and educational materials as well as having her first slice of pie from Helen’s Restaurant in Machias.
Thanks for visiting, Jessica!
Narcan, or naloxone, plays a pivotal role as a harm reduction tool in mitigating the opioid crisis. Just as we equip buildings and houses with fire extinguishers to protect ourselves in the event of a fire, having naloxone readily available at all times is equally essential. By ensuring widespread access to Narcan, we empower individuals and communities to intervene rapidly and prevent overdose-related fatalities.
While Narcan is a powerful intervention, it is not a replacement for emergency medical services. Administering naloxone should always be followed by immediately calling 911 to ensure the person experiencing an overdose receives comprehensive medical attention. Time is of the essence in overdose situations, and the combined efforts of naloxone and emergency medical personnel can provide the best chances of a full recovery.
Healthy Acadia provides free Narcan (naloxone) kits and training to those who want it, and an increasing amount of other public health organizations and health providers are doing the same.
Click here To request a free naloxone kit, training, and other harm-reduction resources, including Deterra bags, Fentanyl test strips, and more.