Harm Reduction
Narcan Overdose Rescue
Narcan
Rapid Naloxone (Narcan) administration is key to reversing opioid overdose, even if it from prescription medication. Narcan is available to the general public at no cost distribution boxes located at the following sites in Calloway County:
- Calloway County Health Department
- Murray Housing Authority (716 Nash Dr.)
- The Ellis Center (630 Ellis Dr.)
- United Way of Murray (203 Ash St.)
- City of Murray Park (900 Payne St.)
- Central Park (Gil Hopson Dr.)
We also offer Narcan to any agency, school, church or business.
Call 270-753-3881 today to learn more!
Opioid Overdose Recognition and Response
What are Opioids?
Opioids are drugs that alter the body’s perception of pain. Examples include:
• Diacetylmorphine (Heroin)
• Fetanyl (Duragesic, Sublimaze, Actiq)
• Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
• Morphine (MS Contin)
• Hydrocodone (Lortab, Norco)
• Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet)
• Oxymorphone (Opana)
Is it an Overdose?
A person who has overdosed will be unable to wake up or talk to you. Never let them sleep it off!
• They may be breathing slowly, less than once every 5 seconds
• Their chest or belly may move only a little with each breath
• They may make snoring, gurgling or rattling sounds
• Their skin may be pale, cool and clammy
• Their lips or fingernails may be gray or blue
• They may not be breathing at all
What is an Overdose?
An overdose happens when someone takes too much of an opioid and their breathing begins to shut down. If an overdose is not reversed, it is likely that this person will eventually stop breathing and die.
It is important to give Naloxone quickly when you suspect an overdose.
What do I do?
If you think someone may have overdosed, make every effort to wake them up. You can shout at them or try to shake them awake.
If they don’t wake up you should give Naloxone.
Even if you don’t think they can hear you, explain loudly and clearly that you are going to give them Naloxone.
If someone else is with you, they can call 911.
Fentanyl & Xylazine Test Strips
Drug checking strips can help you understand if fentanyl or xylazine is in a substance before you use it.
Fentanyl is an extremely potent opioid that may be added to drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and pills. Fentanyl increases the risk of overdose.
Xylazine is a tranquilizer that is increasingly added to products sold as heroin. It can complicate an overdose and can cause skin wounds that may be difficult to heal.
Fentanyl test strips (FTS) and Xylazine test strips (XTS) can detect the presence of these substances, but they aren’t perfect. False negative and false positive results are both possible - you can still overdose even when the strip is negative. Follow the instructions closely to get the most accurate results.
