MIDDLEBURY — The Turning Point Center of Addison County in Middlebury is distributing free Narcan emergency kits to people seeking to have the substance handy for a friend or loved one at risk of overdosing on opiates.
The emergency kits are called “Opiate Overdoes Rescue Kits,” and they feature two doses of Narcan (brand name for the pharmaceutical drug 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 spray can be used on someone who is overdosing on heroin or other opiates.
These kits are meant for members of the general public; professional health care workers can get Narcan kits through a pharmacy with a prescription.
The free kits, funded through the state, are available at the Turning Point Center at 228 Maple St. (Marble Works) in Middlebury on Wednesday between 9 a.m. and noon. Training on the kits is approximately 10 minutes.
Turning Point Center Director Bill Brim said uptake of the kits has been slow and he hoped there would be more people coming to claim the kits. They are free of charge to anyone who might be present at an overdose, including people who are opiate dependent, family members or friends.
For more information, call Brim at 388-4249.