MIDDLEBURY — The Turning Point Center of Addison County in Middlebury gave out 69 free Narcan emergency kits to a total of 29 people seeking to have the substance handy for a friend or loved one at risk of overdosing on opiates.
“In general, it went really well,” Turning Point Center Director Bill Brim said of the event, which took place from 1 to 5 p.m. this past Wednesday and was overseen by officials from the HowardCenter, a Burlington nonprofit that offers counseling and support services to people in crisis.
Addison County’s was the first Turning Point Center in the state to pass out the Narcan kits, which feature two doses of Naloxone dispensed through a nasal sprayer. Naloxone is used to treat respiratory depression caused by opioids, such as heroin, morphine, oxycodone, methadone, hydrocodone, codeine, and other prescription pain medications.
The free kits, funded through the state, are already being dispensed regularly at the HowardCenter, the Good Neighbor Health Clinic in White River Junction, and the West Ridge Center for Addiction Recovery in Rutland.
Brim said he had hoped to give out more of the kits. He said the Middlebury center might host another Narcan kit distribution day in the future.
Reporter John Flowers is at [email protected].