ADAMH Partners with Columbus Metropolitan Library and Community Allies to Prevent Overdose Deaths
Lifesaving Naloxone Kits Installed in Public Spaces
Dec. 9, 2021
Key locations in central Ohio will have additional access to naloxone, the lifesaving overdose reversal medication, available for community access through a collaboration between the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board (ADAMH) of Franklin County, Columbus Metropolitan Library and additional partners.
This is in response to increasing overdoses in Franklin County where overdose deaths climbed 47 percent in 2020 to more than 800 deaths. With $242,442 of State Opioid Response Funds made available through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, ADAMH is purchasing 150 NaloxBox kits and installing them in public spaces in zip codes experiencing higher numbers of overdoses.
“Many individuals in recovery from addiction are here today because they had another chance. Recovery is only possible if someone is still alive to take that step,” said ADAMH CEO Erika Clark Jones. “Columbus Metropolitan Library and other community partners are helping ADAMH save lives with this commitment to ensure naloxone is easily available in public spaces.”
“Right now, our communities are grappling with not one, but two deadly health crises,” said Columbus Metropolitan Library Chief Community Engagement Officer Donna Zuiderweg. “As a public library with 23 locations throughout Franklin County, we’re uniquely positioned to respond – and act – in the event of an overdose. We’re proud to be a partner.”
The first NaloxBox kits are being installed in locations at Columbus Metropolitan Library branches, Columbus Recreation and Parks community centers and St. Stephen’s Community House. The kits currently are available at 12 library locations – with plans to install them at the remaining 11 locations in the coming months. They will be available at the community centers by the end of December. Additionally, ADAMH is working with community partners to install an additional 100 NaloxBox kits in zip codes with high incidents of overdoses in the first quarter of 2022. (2021 NaloxBox initial locations)
Each NaloxBox contains:
- One clear UV-stabilized box
- Two doses of naloxone (nasal spray)
- An English/Spanish instructional guide
- A QR code linking to a page on the ADAMH website that includes a naloxone administration instructional video and resources for someone looking to start recovery
- One Rescue breathing barrier device
- Ties to close and open the NaloxBox
Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose and is easy to administer. Naloxone only works on overdoses caused by opioids. This family of drugs includes prescription painkillers like OxyContin, fentanyl, methadone, and Vicodin, as well as illicit drugs like heroin. Naloxone will not reverse overdose resulting from non-opioid drugs, like cocaine, benzodiazepines (“benzos”), or alcohol.
Given how safe naloxone is, a victim of a non-opioid overdose, or an overdose caused by a mixture of drugs will not be harmed by naloxone. In multiple drug overdoses (e.g., an opioid and a benzodiazepine) it is still worth administering naloxone as it will remove the effects of the opioid and may still reverse the overdose.
Funding for this project was made possible (in part) by the Ohio State Opioid Response (SOR) - 1H79TI083294-01 grant from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
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Franklin County residents can request personal supplies of naloxone through Columbus Public Health or Franklin County Public Health.