In February, Governor Eric Holcomb announced that the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction would be partnering with Overdose Lifeline, Inc. in order to expand access to naloxone. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication approved to reverse overdose by opioids and is given when an individual shows signs of overdose. This initiative comes after a year where nationwide opioid overdoses rose during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Making overdose response tools like naloxone readily available to any Hoosier who may encounter an individual suffering from an overdose is critical in addressing the drug epidemic. We’re committed to raising awareness about the need for bystanders to carry this lifesaving drug, which is why we’ve made it available via so many avenues, oftentimes at no cost to Hoosiers,” said Governor Holcomb in a press release from earlier this year.
Porter-Starke Services will be joining this effort to reduce opioid misuse deaths by placing NaloxBox units in a clearly visible space on the exteriors of its locations in Valparaiso, Portage, LaPorte, and Knox. Each unit contains six to eight doses of naloxone, instructions for use, and treatment referral cards. The ability to anonymously access naloxone in communities throughout Indiana is an important step in lowering the number of overdoses in the state.
“Removing the stigma and costs behind acquiring this life-saving medication removes a large barrier and provides the best form of overdose protection we currently have,” said Megan Fisher, Director of Recovery Engagement at Porter-Starke Services.
First responders, families, caregivers, and other individuals who would like to receive a supply of naloxone can register online at www.overdoselifeline.org/2020-indiana-naloxone-request.
