Amy Neeley, prevention director of the Brooke Hancock Resource Network, distributed numerous Narcan kits Thursday afternoon at Chester Municipal Building. (Submitted photo)

CHESTER — On Friday, states east of the Mississippi River celebrated Save A Life Day, distributing more than 84,000 naloxone doses at 650 events.

Locally, one such event was held a day earlier at the Chester Municipal Building, where the Brooke Hancock Resource Network hosted such one naloxone distribution at its city office.

As BHRN prevention director Amy Neeley explained on Thursday, she wants access in every household whether the home is occupied by a substance abuse addict; a child who may have accidentally ingested an opiate; or, even an elderly person who inadvertently took too much of a prescribed medication.

Naloxone (or brand name Narcan) is a medication that helps to reverse the effects of opiates. It works by temporarily blocking the effects on the brain, restoring normal breathing. It is available without prescription and can be administered by individuals without medical training.

A box containing two doses can be purchased at Walmart for $34.97.

The drug is non-toxic and can be used on any age.

Several people came to the four-hour event held in the Hancock County Family Support Center’s meeting room due to inclement weather to pick up Narcan kits, which include two doses of narcan as well as drug disposal kits and fentanyl test strips.

Several elderly folks picked it up to keep in their own medicine cabinets in case of accidental overdose from the prescription medicines, while others picked it up for distribution to potential addicts living on the streets or that they work with.

With the urgency of illicit drugs being infiltrated by fentanyl as dealers attempt to increase not only its potency but also stretch their supply, many addicts may unknowingly ingest the drug — not knowing the increased risk of their cocaine, for example.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin.

Before dispensing the Narcan kits to attendees, Neeley outlined the steps before administration. After determining they are indeed unresponsive and calling 911, she advised to relocate the victim to the floor and tilt his head to the side.

Then gently insert the tip of the narcan dosage nozzle into one nostril until the fingers touch the bottom of his nose before pressing the plunger firmly.

“If you can use Flonase for your allergies, you can administer Narcan,” Neeley added.

The drug should take immediate effect. If it doesn’t administer another dose and see repeating until either you have no more doses left or help arrives.

Generally when conscious again, the majority of the time, the overdose person will be startled. So be sure to get out of the way.

She added that it is important to note that the narcan only lasts around 20 minutes in the body. Thee overdose victim should be taken to a location where help can be administered again if needed. This can be a medical facility or anywhere he can be closely monitored in the case of relapse.

Neeley warned that a typical overdose doesn’t look like it doesn’t on TV.

She said that the number of doses needing to be administered for a return to consciousness varies with individual cases.

For example, one EMT reported a case where his team had to administer 10 doses to one patient.

If administration of the narcan, doesn’t result in saving a life, Neeley reminds them that they cannot be responsible for that.

The prevention director said that she not only carries narcan doses in her home medicine cabinet and bag but also keeps it in her car. She cautioned in the case of extreme temperatures in the summer and winter months, relocating it inside your home is advisable as the potency could be compromised.

For more information on obtaining your free naloxone kits, reach out to BHRN or HCFSC at 304-748-7850 or your local health department.