Fremont County Department of Public Health & Environment (FCDPHE) began distributing Naloxone to the local community on Feb. 8. Distribution and screening is on a confidential, appointment only basis. Naloxone (also known as Narcan®) is a safe and effective prescription medicine that reverses an opioid overdose, which can be caused by prescription analgesics (e.g., Percocet, OxyContin), and heroin. Naloxone will only reverse an opioid overdose, it does not prevent overdose deaths caused by other drugs such as benzodiazepines (e.g. Xanax®, Klonopin® and Valium®), bath salts, cocaine, methamphetamine or alcohol. However, naloxone is effective for multi-substance overdoses such as a combined opioid and alcohol overdose. It cannot be used to get high.
The appropriate and intended use of Naloxone is to save lives. Area law enforcement officers routinely carry Naloxone which they credited with saving numerous lives. Individuals interested in the program may contact FCDPHE at (719) 276-7450 to schedule an appointment, screening and training (M-Th 7:30am-5:30pm). All information is kept strictly confidential.