Narcan Rescue Kits To Be Distributed In Lorain County

ELYRIA, OH — As opioid use increases in Lorain County, health officials are organizing a distribution of Narcan rescue kits.

Narcan is a medication that stops and reverses an opioid overdose. The Lorain County Opioid Action Team will provide the rescue kits and training for anyone who wants to prevent an opioid overdose death. Distribution will take place June 4-6 at Shell Gas Station, 905 Lorain Boulevard, Elyria. Kits will be available from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

Training is available weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Lorain County Public Healtlh, 9880 Murray Ridge Road, Elyria. Get training and submit a request at LorainCountyHealth.com/opioids. Call 440-322-6367 to make an appointment after hours.

Opioid use was up 53 percent from 2019 to 2020, according to Lorain County Public Health. In 2020, 138 Lorain County residents lost their lives as a result of an accidental overdose.

In an attempt to save lives last year, the county health department distributed 932 Narcan rescue kits to Lorain County residents to prevent opioid overdoses. Reports show those Narcan rescue kits saved 140 individuals from dying from an opioid overdose. These kits saved the life of someone’s daughter, mother, father, son or friend.

“Saving someone’s life with Narcan provides a chance for that person to seek recovery,” says David Covell, health commissioner for the county. “Getting support from others helps a person with addiction seek and reach recovery.”