Naloxone supplies requested using county opioid funds

Naloxone, a drug used to save a person’s life in the event of an opioid overdose, could find its way to households through a county-sponsored drop box, if the county has the funds to maintain it.

Wednesday’s Union County Board of Supervisors meeting began with a discussion between the supervisors and Zion Integrated Behavioral Health Services, which operates in Adams, Clarke, Decatur, Madison, Taylor, Ringgold and Union counties.

Representatives from Zion, Prevention Specialists Lisa Carstens and Darla Dolecheck, discussed potentially using county opioid funds for naloxone supplies. These supplies would be distributed for free to help prevent community deaths from overdoses.

Local governments across the country have been receiving opioid funds from the federal government based on a settlement with drug companies. These funds are required to be used for preventing additional damages from opioid abuse.

Zion, in Union County, regularly holds prevention programs at Creston Schools, East Union and Greater Regional Health. Part of those programs is informing the local community of naloxone and distributing a supply funded through a state grant awarded to Zion.

Naloxone (common brands include Evzio and Narcan) is an overdose-preventative drug, called an inhibitor, to be used in the case of an opioid overdose. Naloxone has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system. The drug can be administered through a nasal spray or injection.

In a scenario of an opioid overdose, naloxone can administered to an individual to restore breathing and prepare them for transport to a hospital, potentially saving their life. Naloxone can be obtained through local pharmacies or through outreach programs such as the one Zion is attempting to create.

In order to distribute naloxone to Union County residents, Zion proposed Union County to supply an organization called Steps of Hope with naloxone.

Steps of Hope is an outreach non-profit which works in Iowa to prevent drug overdoses. A year ago, a drop box for naloxone was installed outside of Zion’s Creston office and is managed by Steps of Hope. Boxes of Narcan nasal spray can be found in this drop box.

Zion’s naloxone supply has been dwindling recently, with the representatives hoping to create an offer with Union County to use opioid funds, similar to other deals created by Montgomery and Cass counties with their local behavioral health organizations.

Carstens explained how the advantage of a drop box would allow for naloxone to be distributed to a community easier without the requirement of training. The state-funded supply can only be distributed to those with training from Zion, which can be limiting compared to what could be available from county funds.

Funding for naloxone kits was broken down. For a six-month supply costing $2,376, the county would receive a total of 72 kits with two nasal spray doses in each kit. The kits were expected to “run out quick” by Zion. Zion’s data has said naloxone availability has lowered overdoses in local communities.

No representative from Steps of Hope was present during Wednesday’s meeting, which was contentious with Union County supervisors. Additionally, tracking who is taking naloxone kits isn’t possible, which worried some supervisors.

Union County has previously used opioid funds with Crossroads Behavioral Services to promote mental health programs within the county. Zion could potentially join them, as long as the county’s opioid funds can support their plan.

No decision was made during Wednesday’s meeting. In tabling the topic, the board cited a need to see a representative from Steps of Hope and to receive more information on the status of county opioid funds.