Opioid Overdose Reversal Training Held Online For Residents

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Knowing how to reverse an opioid overdose can save a life. Loudoun County is encouraging residents to attend one of the free virtual training sessions to learn how to identify, prevent, and reverse opioid overdoses.

The virtual training sessions last about an hour. Though the training is free of charge, participants are required to sign up in advance. Participants who complete the "REVIVE!" training can also choose to receive a free naloxone nasal spray through the mail or at a pick-up site.

Loudoun County will host three virtual training sessions in the next week.

• Thursday, March 11, 2021, 12 p.m.
• Monday, March 15, 2021, 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, March 18, 2021, 12:00 p.m.

People can sign up for the training on March 11, March 15, or March 18 on the county's website.

The training is open to anyone who is interested, though the county's website does recommend that anyone who uses opioids is particularly encouraged to attend. According to a release from the CDC in December, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the number of overdose deaths.

"The disruption to daily life due to the COVID-19 pandemic has hit those with substance use disorder hard," CDC Director Robert Redfield, M.D said in the release. "As we continue the fight to end this pandemic, it’s important to not lose sight of different groups being affected in other ways."

"REVIVE!" is the opioid overdose and naloxone education program for Virginia residents. These local training sessions are sponsored by the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Service, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Loudoun County Community Services Board.

The program teaches participants how to recognize an overdose, and how to respond. The program informs people how to properly administer naloxone nasal spray to treat an overdose in an emergency.

Anyone interested in hosting a training session or learning more about the "REVIVE!" program, or to host a training session can contact the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services. They can be reached at 571-258-3365, or over email at LCMHFirstAid@loudoun.gov.