BOH, CAASA launch Narcan distribution program
By Mike BergerWeeks after previewing their naloxone (Narcan) distribution program to a very receptive audience at a Canton Select Board meeting, Public Health Nurse Maeve Moore and Canton Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA) Program Manager Isabel Nolan have begun putting their plan in motion with the first public naloxone boxes now in place at the Canton Public Library and the Board of Health office at 79 Pleasant Street.
Moore said the first outdoor box will be set up in the Shepard Pond area by the end of this week, and the BOH and CAASA are in the process of identifying other suitable locations for both indoor and outdoor distribution boxes. A complete list of locations and an accompanying map will be published once all boxes have been installed.
Naloxone, which is manufactured under several brand names, including Narcan, is a life-saving medication that reverses the effects of opioids in the body and stops overdose.
“The goal of this project is to make it easy for anyone in Canton to obtain and confidently use Narcan in the event of an overdose emergency,” said Moore. “Our hope is that everyone feels empowered to carry Narcan and use it if a member of our community requires life-saving intervention.”
Recognizing that substance use disorders are a spectrum of illnesses, Moore said both the Board of Health and CAASA want to send a message to those who are struggling with addiction that their “neighbors stand with them in their journey to be well.”
“We believe that Canton can be a leader in fostering a culture of understanding, support, and recovery,” she said.
Each naloxone distribution box contains seven overdose response kits, consisting of two doses of Narcan, two barrier masks for providing rescue breaths, four Fentanyl test strips (for those using heroin and want to know if it contains Fentanyl), printed instructions, and a list of resources from the Mass. Overdose Helpline. If the box is empty, there will be a QR code inside that will link to the Board of Health and an anonymous online form.
The total cost of the naloxone distribution program is around $7,000 and it is funded by a mix of grants, state funding provided to CAASA, and opioid settlement funds.
During the recent presentation to the Select Board, Moore mentioned several other possible locations for the boxes, including Devoll Field, the Bolivar pool complex, Memorial Field at CHS, and the former St. Gerard’s Church property. She also plans to reach out to the Canton Association of Business and Industry (CABI) to gauge local businesses’ interest in housing a naloxone box.
Residents can also purchase Narcan without a prescription at any Massachusetts pharmacy and it is covered by most insurance plans. Other options for obtaining Narcan can be found at town.canton.ma.us/670/Narcan.
“We strongly encourage everyone to consider carrying Narcan, even if you don’t personally know anyone who uses drugs,” Moore said. “Addiction takes so much away from us, but we can help keep each other safe.”
For more information about the naloxone distribution program, please call Moore at 781-821-2942.
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=126144
Posted by Mike Berger
on Aug 2 2024. Filed under News, Town Government.
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