Every day in 2018, West Virginia lost 2 of her own to opioid overdoses. That’s a lot of loss, a lot of loved ones who didn’t come home for Christmas last year.
While we can’t walk back those losses, we can save more lives.
Remarkably, we have an antidote for opioid overdoses. This antidote is called Naloxone. The brand name for Naloxone, an easy to use Nasal spray, is called Narcan. If more people were to carry and distribute this medicine, especially people who were near people who use drugs, we could give more people another chance at life.
All Naloxone does is kick opioids off the brain’s receptors – this can let people breathe again and regain consciousness. Beyond triggering withdrawal (if someone has taken opioids), Naloxone comes with no negative side effects. It will do no harm if it is mistakenly administered (i.e. if it turns out someone was having a heart attack). Many West Virginians’ journey of recovery – including being reunited with their children, mending ties with family, finding a job, and giving back, starts with someone caring enough to administer Naloxone.
Just remember that if you witness a suspected overdose to call 911 right away. More Naloxone may be needed (overdoses involving fentanyl and other more potent opioids can require 3-4 or more Narcan doses), the overdose may not involve opioids (for which Naloxone will have no effect), Naloxone wears off in 30-90 minutes (which means people can overdose again even after you’ve brought them back), and there may be other medical issues involved. By calling 911, you also are protected from liability.
So, how do you get Naloxone in West Virginia?
It’s easy. Below are 3 options for getting your own Naloxone.
1) Your local pharmacy. The the biggest life-saving secret in West Virginia is that you don’t need a prescription to get Naloxone at your local pharmacy. Indeed, everyone in West Virginia already has a prescription written for them by the state’s Health Officer, Dr. Catherine Slemp. So, all you have to do is ask your neighborhood pharmacist. You can always show them the statewide prescription. If you have Medicaid, Naloxone is never more than $3 (and it may be free!). And with Medicaid, you can get a new kit every 26 days or after any use. With Medicare, it tends to be less than $10. With commercial insurances, the price varies.
2) Your local Health Department may offer FREE Naloxone. It’s worth contacting your local Health Dept (you can see a statewide list here) and asking them. If a Health Department offers free Naloxone, they will generally offer a free 10-15 minute training and answer all of your questions.
3) Get Naloxone shipped to you for free. If you are unable to access Naloxone at your pharmacy or via your Health Department, you can request a free Naloxone kit from “Naloxone for All.” This is a group that mails free Naloxone to people across the country who are in a position to save lives. You can sign up here.
Hopefully, at least one of these options will work for you. If none of them do, please do get in touch with me.
Everyone can be a Lifesaver in West Virginia — Thank you for being willing to be one.
