The Berrien County Health Department will host two Narcan training sessions this month. Prevention supervisor Lisa Peeples-Hurst tells us Narcan is the nasal spray that can save the life of someone having an opioid overdose. There will be a session in Benton Harbor and a session in Niles, both at health department offices and to be drive-thru style.
“A person doesn’t even have to leave their car, and they will be educated on the risk, what increases the risk of a fatal overdose, how to prevent an overdose, how to recognize one,” Peeples-Hurst said.
Then they’ll learn how to administer Narcan to save the person having an overdose. Peeples-Hurst says those who attend will also receive Narcan kits. She estimates the health department has given out around 200 of them so far.
“You’d be surprised at the number of people, when we did this last year, who had person stories about someone, a family member or a friend, that they lost to an overdose.”
Peeples-Hurst says Narcan cannot harm someone who isn’t having an overdose. It works directly with the receptors that interact with the opioid. The session in Benton Harbor will be August 30 from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. The Niles session will be August 31 during the same times. Pre-registration is encouraged, and you can do so by scanning a QR code we have below or by calling the Berrien County Health Department.
