The Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission (AICDAC) and Indiana Regional Medical Center (IRMC) have partnered to increase the availability of Naloxone for people in Indiana, PA. AICDAC has purchased a Naloxone Vending Machine that will be outside of the Emergency Room at IRMC.
Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication approved to reverse an overdose from opioids and is given when a person is showing signs of an opioid overdose. Naloxone is a safe, easy-to-use, live-saving medication that has one job: Reverse an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of opioids. An opioid overdose happens when the body cannot handle the amount of opioids that a person takes or if they take a dangerous combination of opioids and other substances like alcohol, other medications, or drugs.
Opioids can slow down a person’s breathing, or even completely stop their breathing.
Additional signs of an overdose include:
- Small, pinpoint pupils
- Falling asleep or loss of consciousness
- Choking or gurgling sounds
- Limp body
- Pale, blue, or cold skin
You can save a life by giving naloxone to a person experiencing opioid overdose.
The vending machine is manufactured by A&M Equipment and is programmed to dispense free Naloxone Kits. Each kit contains 2 doses of Naloxone, instructions for use, and information on how to access treatment for a substance use disorder.
Indiana County had 43 Fatal Drug Overdose Deaths in 2022 and Fentanyl was present in 84% of them. The vending machine will also be stocked with Fentanyl Test Strips as well. Pennsylvania recently passed a law to allow for the use of Fentanyl Test Strips to reduce overdose deaths and decrease the number of people that are exposed to Fentanyl. Act 111, which amends the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act of 1972 to no longer define fentanyl test strips as drug paraphernalia, took effect in January 2023. Under the new law, people in Pennsylvania who buy or carry fentanyl testing strips will no longer face potential criminal charges for possession of drug paraphernalia. The Legislation for Act 111 was authored by Representative Jim Struzzi (R-Indiana) and it was passed by the PA House of Representatives and the PA Senate with unanimous support.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl test strips (FTS) are a low-cost method of helping prevent drug overdoses and reducing harm. FTS are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in all different kinds of drugs (e.g., cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin) and drug forms (pills, powder, and injectables).
“Drug overdose deaths devastate families and the communities we live in and serve. IRMC is committed to a harm reduction approach in collaboration with our community partners including The Open Door and the Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug & Alcohol Commission,” stated Richard Neff, MD, Chief Medical Officer at IRMC. “We thank Representative Struzzi for his leadership in authoring Act 111, which allows for distribution of fentanyl test strips. A life saved today is a potential future person in recovery, rebuilding their lives and connections with their loved ones and community.”
Naloxone (Narcan) is available at NO COST
Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission (AICDAC) is committed to making Naloxone available to members of our community, particularly people that use opioids and their family and/or friends, first responders (EMS, Fire Departments, and Police), and anyone else that wants to help save the life of an individual that is experiencing an overdose emergency. For more information about accessing Naloxone or to learn more about the resources available to people with a substance use disorder, contact AICDAC at (724)463-7860 or www.aicdac.org.
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