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Narcan kits and HIV tests at Health Dept. Health Dept. in Hazard provided Naloxone kits and HIV, Hep. C testing for people battling addiction

The Hazard Herald - 5/26/2017

HAZARDThe Perry County Health Dept. and the Kentucky Pharmacists Association, Kentucky Dept. for Public Health provided free Naloxone (Narcan) kits, HIV and Hepatitis C testing and counseling Friday at the Health Dept. in Hazard. A mobile unit was stationed at the Health Dept. to provide the services. Naloxone training was also available.

Naloxone is used to treat opioid overdoses in emergency situations. Although the medicine should not be considered as an alternative to emergency medical care, Naloxone acts in treating overdoses by reversing the effects of opioids.

Opioid addiction is one of the top health concerns in Southeastern Kentucky. During the UK Center for Excellence in Rural Health’s “Appalachia Research Day,” held Wednesday at Hazard Community and Technical College, opioid abuse and needle sharing were among the areas of emphasis reviewed by the panel of experts.

Along with opioid addiction, Southeastern Kentucky has also seen a rise in HIV transmissions over the past year, due largely to the sharing of syringes by drug users, who are turning in large numbers to heroin as their opioid source.

As pain pills, such as Oxycontin, become harder to obtain, heroin has crept into the illegal narcotics market to fill the void. Fentanyl, a potent and dangerous opioid, is also turning up in more drug busts and overdose cases. Emergency personnel regularly use Naloxone (Narcan) in the treatment of overdoses related to these drugs.

Sam Neace can be reached at 606-629-3243 or on Twitter @HazardHerald.