On January 23, 2023, RiverValley Behavioral Health will give away 220 doses of Narcan Nasal Spray through our Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program.
Narcan is a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and save lives. The medication has been used safely and effectively by emergency medical services for decades.
Opioids are prescription drugs used to treat moderate-to-severe pain and are often prescribed following surgery or injury, or for health conditions such as cancer. However, in recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the acceptance and use of prescription opioids, despite serious risks and the unknown long-term effects.
Opioids are highly addictive and anyone who takes prescription opioids is at risk for developing a substance use disorder. In fact, as many as 1-in-4 patients receiving long-term opioid therapy in a primary care setting struggle with opioid addiction, with approximately 10.1 million individuals having misused a prescription opioid in the last year, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Additionally, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 75% of the 107,622 drug overdose deaths in 2021 involved an opioid, a 15% increase from 2020.
Equipping our community with Narcan may help reduce the number of overdoses in the communities we serve and provide access to lifesaving medications for those who need it.
“RiverValley started its Medication Assisted Treatment program in 2020 to respond to the need in our local communities to assist in the fight against the Opioid Epidemic that is growing daily. Since 2020, the number of patients affected by opioid addiction continue to grow
and we have explored ways to help prevent its devastating consequences,” said Nicki Feher, RN and RVBH Clinical Office Manager.
“One of the most effective ways to combat opioid addiction is through education and access to resources. Our goal for the Narcan giveaway in January is to provide access to necessary measures that could help save a life.”
This effort was made possible through the assistance of the Kentucky Opioid Response Effort (K.O.R.E.), which has provided RVBH with the 220 doses to give away in our communities.
The giveaway will take place at RiverValley Behavioral Health, located at 1100 Walnut Street in Owensboro, KY. Narcan Nasal Spray doses can be picked up between noon and 3 p.m. inside the front entrance of the building above the stairs.
“This giveaway is an opportunity for RiverValley Behavioral Health to help provide easy access to a lifesaving medication for those in our community who are dealing with substance use challenges on a daily basis,” said Dr. Wanda Figueroa-Peralta, RVBH President & CEO.
“But the effort does not stop there. RiverValley is here to help provide ongoing treatment options for those seeking recovery through our Medication Assisted Treatment program. We want our communities to know that we are here for them and that recovery is
possible.”
RVBH’s MAT Program is an evidence-based program that combines the use of medication and behavioral therapy to treat substance use disorders. For more information about MAT services, please call 270-689-6690. If you are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988.
For medical emergencies or if you suspect you or someone you know may be experiencing an overdose, call 911 immediately.
