On this picture representation, a bundle of Narcan (Naloxone HCI) nasal spray is displayed on March 29, 2023, in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Pictures/TNS)
With fentanyl and different opioids proceeding to take a perilous toll at the nation, Santa Clara County has begun distributing Narcan, the opioid overdose-reversing nasal spray, by means of mail to citizens for free.
Narcan, additionally recognized by means of its generic title naloxone, was once licensed by means of the FDA closing 12 months to be used with no prescription and has grow to be a well-liked instrument for native governments and faculties taking a look to curb the choice of opioid overdoses. However the life-saving medication comes with a hefty price ticket without of pocket prices starting from $70 to $150.
Santa Clara County has already stocked loose Narcan in different of its libraries, making the mail-order effort simply the newest initiative to struggle the opioid disaster.
Anjanette DeVito, the nurse supervisor for the county’s dependancy medication and remedy techniques, mentioned that since Dec. 1, the county has fulfilled just about 60 requests — or 120 kits — of Narcan. Citizens desirous about acquiring Narcan can touch the county at 408-272-6055 or SCCOOPP@hhs.sccgov.org, and the county will ship the nasal spray out inside of 24 hours.
DeVito mentioned the mail order Narcan isn’t simply otherwise to get the medication in additional other folks’s palms — however a solution to teach them use it, as neatly.
“For anyone who doesn’t have the time all the way through the paintings day this was once any other road to make the medicine or the learning to be had,” she mentioned. “Once we obtain an electronic mail or telephone name that anyone is desirous about our mail order program we offer them with the producers coaching video thru electronic mail hyperlink and a QR code each throughout the electronic mail and likewise at the field.”
Manager Cindy Chavez mentioned including a mail order program was once the logical subsequent step as many citizens are already used to getting their prescriptions or COVID-19 checks within the mail.
In her conversations with citizens, she’s discovered that no longer everybody feels at ease selecting up Narcan at their native library out of concern that others may assume they’re a drug consumer themselves.
“Even though they’re no longer drug customers, they’re round people who find themselves and so numerous the oldsters who’re inquiring for this aren’t the use of medication themselves however have buddies or circle of relatives who do,” Chavez mentioned. “Being any individual who’s accountable, simply in need of to be able similar to you may take a CPR magnificence, that’s how we’re in need of to make it really feel.”
With fentanyl killing a document choice of Californians in 2022, the state lately has ratcheted up efforts to combat the opioid disaster with a slate of recent rules.
A brand new legislation signed by means of Gov. Gavin Newsom closing 12 months calls for public and constitution faculties to create protection plans about how they’d take care of a pupil having an opioid overdose on campus. Group schools and state universities now have to supply fentanyl take a look at strips to scholars, as neatly.
Santa Clara County additionally supplies loose in-person trainings and Narcan at a number of county clinics. For more info seek advice from www.sccgov.org/sccoopp.
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