First responders in Marshall, Starke, and Pulaski counties will be able to get more Narcan kits. The Indiana State Department of Health has awarded a total of $127,000 to 95 first responder agencies in 34 rural counties. That will cover the cost of nearly 3,400 Narcan kits, training for first responders, and expanding referrals to treatment and recovery options.
State health officials say Narcan is a non-narcotic and non-addictive drug that can reverse opioid overdoses. They add that it’s especially important in rural areas, where residents may be many miles from the nearest health care provider.
Funding was awarded to counties with a higher number of emergency room visits for overdoses, more opioid prescriptions, and a lower use of Narcan by first responders, according to the ISDH. That money comes from a four-year, $3.2 million grant awarded to the State Department of Health back in October by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
The State Department of Health says it’s already given more than 13,700 Narcan kits to local health departments, as part of its naloxone distribution program.
