The Hamilton County Health Dept. will conduct a free Narcan education class July 29 in which it also will disperse Narcan to those who need it. The class is available through a grant from the Indiana State Dept. of Health. The Hamilton County Health Dept. has offered the program for three years.
“The grant lets us provide free Narcan to individuals who feel they need Narcan,” Hamilton County Health Dept. health education specialist Jim Ginder said. “We have a lot of families come to the training who have family members with substance abuse disorders, and we also have a lot of people from the community who want to come to learn about Narcan and opiates and habits just in case they’re ever in a situation where they can help save somebody’s life.”
The class begins at 6 p.m. at the health department, 18030 Foundation Dr., Noblesville. Registration is required.
Ginder said the health department tries to offer the program quarterly. It teaches about opiates, signs and symptoms of overdose, how to dispose old medication, what opiates do to the body and how to administer Narcan. It also shows how to provide hands-only CPR.
“Attendees get a pretty extensive packet of other resources, like treatment and mental health resources,” Ginder said. “I think it’s a great program because with COVID, a lot of people are staying at home and maybe not getting the mental heath support they need, or if they have a substance abuse disorder, they are not able to connect with their support system. We are starting to see more people relapsing because of COVID.”
Depending on the number of registrants, each attendee will receive one or two doses of Narcan to administer when needed. For more or to register, visit eventbrite.com/o/hamilton-county-health-department-13119381288.
