April 10, 2018
For More Information, Contact
- Lorrie Andrew-Spear, VDH-Northern Region Public Information Officer – 703-530-2627
Appointments Available at Health Clinics
(Winchester, Va.) — Opioid abuse has severely affected Virginia, and the Lord Fairfax Health District wants to enable more community members to reverse overdoses and help save a life. Naloxone (also known as Narcan) is a fast-acting, safe and easy-to-administer nasal spray that can provide lifesaving temporary reversal of effects in opioid overdoses. A family member, bystander, first responder or medical provider can administer naloxone/Narcan and save a life. The U.S. Surgeon General recently issued a public health advisory to urge more Americans to carry naloxone. To help this effort, the Lord Fairfax Health District is expanding its program to distribute free naloxone to prevent fatal opioid overdoses.
Individual community members can receive free Narcan by calling for an appointment at any of the following health departments. A brief training on how to administer Narcan properly will be provided at the appointment. Those who have completed the REVIVE! Program do not need additional training, but must bring proof of training completion. Health District staff can also arrange training and dispensing sessions for groups. Call Leea Shirley at 540-722-3470 or Dr. Colin Greene at 540-722-3480 to arrange a session.
| Frederick/Winchester Health Dept. 10 Baker St. Winchester, Va. 540-722-3470 Clarke County Health Department Page County Health Department |
Shenandoah County Health Department 494 N. Main St. Woodstock, Va. 540-459-3733 Warren County Health Department |
Those who should consider having naloxone for an opioid overdose emergency include individuals – and household members and friends of those individuals – who have experienced an opioid overdose, used prescribed or non-prescribed opioids, including heroin, or who have received or are receiving medication for opioid use disorder, such as naltrexone, methadone or buprenorphine. Those with the highest risk for opioid overdoses include anyone recently treated for an overdose or anyone who has used opioids in the past and quit, including individuals released from incarceration or in-patient treatment programs.
The Lord Fairfax Health District serves residents in the city of Winchester and Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah and Warren counties. For more information, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/lord-fairfax/.