Release from Hospice & HomeCare of Reno County
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —
Hospice & HomeCare of Reno County, in collaboration with DCCCA, Inc, Reno County Health Dept, Rise Up Reno, Horizons Mental Health Center and the Reno County Recovery Collaborative hosted two days of Naloxone training in April.
Naloxone is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designed to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist, which means that it binds to opioid receptors and can reverse and block the effects of other opioids, such as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone.
Administered when a patient is showing signs of opioid overdose, naloxone is a temporary treatment and its effects do not last long. Paired with calling EMS, naloxone can be a life saver. Statistically speaking, social class, age and/or race no longer define a higher probability for misuse and or abuse of alcohol, prescription medication or illicit drugs.
The first session took place on April 6th. This session was geared toward community stakeholders, so that they could receive the training and then go back to their staff and advocate for their attendance at the April 19th sessions. In attendance were 24 leaders from HRMC, Horizons, Hutchinson High School, Summit Surgical, Reno County Health Department and other medical stakeholders in the Hutchinson community.
April 19th saw 94 attendees, with four sessions held throughout the day. The virtual option over lunch allowed attendees to attend over their lunch hour without the hassle of commuting.
Attendees were from all over the area, including from McPherson and Sterling, also attending were local educators and administrators from USD 308, retirees, and college students.
Employees from Hospice & HomeCare of Reno County, HRMC, Horizons and Health E Quip were also among Tuesday’s attendees.
According to overdose statistics, there has been a 54% increase in Reno County over the past 12 months. These trainings were conducted in a collaborative effort to raise awareness of drug use and overdose in and around Reno County.