The city of Lexington has been awarded a $2 million grant to continue its effort to reduce opioid-related drug overdoses. The grant will support a continuation of the program for the next four years. Half of the money will go to purchase naloxone the brand name Narcan, used to reverse the effects of an overdose. John Moses is team leader for harm reduction services with the Fayette County Health Department.
“Due to a competitive market the price of Narcan has come down a lot, almost in half. And so we’re going to get a lot more bang for our buck this time around,” said Moses.
Seth Lockard heads Lexington’s community paramedics program. His team provides outreach to those individuals who experience a non-fatal overdose. In addition to leaving Narcan with them, Lockard said they can initiate discussions about harm reduction and drug treatment.
“You know they may not be in the position to have the conversation today. We want them to have the tools so they can be successful and healthy until they’re ready for that conversation about treatment and long-term recovery. So, it’s an important step in that process,” said Lockard.
John Moses, meanwhile, said Narcan is saving lives every day. Moses said 70 overdose reversals occurred in Fayette County in June alone.
