Culpeper Overdose Awareness

narcan

FREE Narcan (Noloxone)

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If you love someone with an addiction to opioids or have a opioid prescription, you know how important it is to have Narcan (Naloxone), the opioid overdose reversal drug on hand.  Typically, Narcan costs anywhere from $75-$140 at a pharmacy.  Virginia offers REVIVE classes which provide community members free narcan to prevent an overdose but most REVIVE classes have been cancelled due to covid.
However, you still have access to free Narcan!

The Rappahannock Area Community Services (Fredericksburg/Stafford) provides virtual REVIVE Narcan trainings twice a month.  After the training, you are able to pick up your free Narcan through their curbside service.  Here is a link to their training info and registration: https://rappahannockareacsb.org/virtual-narcan-training/
Some of their upcoming training dates are:
March 4, 2021, Thursday 12:30 pm
March 25, 2021, Thursday 6:00 pm
April 8, 2021, Thursday 12:30 pm
April 19, 2021, Monday 6:00 pm
*If Charlottesville is a closer location for you to pick up your Narcan, Region Ten Community Services offers this service as well.  Email abigail.wallace@regionten.org to register and receive a link for their trainings.

If transportation is a challenge, The Chris Atwood Foundation offers another option.  On their website, you can request a free Narcan opioid overdose reversal kit that can be mailed to you.  Just fill out the request form, watch an instructional video, and the kit which includes free narcan will be mailed to your home.  Find out more information and register here: https://www.chrisatwoodfoundation.org/orders

Carry Narcan and be equipped to save a life!

Heroin Overdoses, Deaths Continue to Fall in Culpeper Region

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This good news brings hope that our region is making progress in it’s efforts to help those struggling with addiction.

Once a month Culpeper has Narcan training which provides FREE Narcan nasal spray to participants.

We know we still have a long way to go, but the fact that death rates are down – even if that is because Narcan is readily available – shows that we are moving in the right direction.

This article by Allison Brophy-Champion shares some of the latest statistics: “In 2018, there were 29 deaths in this region, 34 in 2017, 44 in 2016 and 14 each in 2015 and 2014. In the past seven years, 146 people have died from using heroin in the area covered by the task force.
(The number of area overdoses is likely higher, as they do not take into account local hospital data, which is not readily shared with law enforcement.)”

Interested in finding out more about Narcan?  Come to a training!
Feb 13th 6pm CULPEPER www.cayacoalition.org/revive/
Feb 18th 6pm MADISON www.rrcsb.org/revive-training/
Mar 26th 6pm WARRENTON www.rrcsb.org/revive-training/

Read the full article at the Culpeper Star Exponent

Upcoming Narcan Trainings

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Come learn how to recognize the signs of an overdose
and leave equipped to help save a life!
Narcan (Naloxone) is an easily administered nasal spray that helps temporarily stop the effects of opioids.  If someone is experiencing an overdose, Narcan can help keep them alive until first responders arrive.
This quick and easy training teaches you about opioids and their effects on the body,  as well as how to recognize and safely respond to an overdose.
Participants leave the class with 2 FREE doses of nasal spray Narcan. 
There are several opportunities to take the course. You must pre-register.

Feb 13th 6pm CULPEPER www.cayacoalition.org/revive/
Feb 18th 6pm MADISON www.rrcsb.org/revive-training/
Mar 26th 6pm WARRENTON www.rrcsb.org/revive-training/

Narcan Training Culpeper

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Learn how to recognize the signs of an overdose and leave equipped to help save a life!  Participants receive 2 FREE doses of nasal spray Narcan (Naloxone), the overdose reversal drug, upon completion of the class.  You must pre-register.  Presented by the Rappahannock Rapidan Community Services.
Jan 28th 6pm RRCSB 15361 Bradford Rd     Register at www.rrcsb.org/revive-training/

Opioid Ripples: Part 3

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Tactics evolve in battle against opioid abuse

Capt Ray Akors and Sheriff Bob Mosier

Read more of journalist Randy Rieland’s research into the local response and how it is helping break the cycle . . .

Law enforcement agencies in the region are taking on a larger role in teaching their communities about a crisis that few saw coming, and with a focus more nuanced than it would have been 10 years ago.

“We try to teach it’s a brain chemistry issue,” Fauquier sheriff’s Capt. Ray Acors said. “It’s not that someone’s a bad person. Their bad behavior comes out of their addiction. It’s a Jekyll and Hyde drug.”

Chief Chris Jenkins of Culpeper thinks addiction prevention doesn’t get the attention it merits. He has both professional and deeply personal reasons for feeling that way. Five years ago, his 26-year-old son, Jordan, who had become addicted to prescription medications, committed suicide. “I actually think prevention is as important as law enforcement now,” he said. “And it’s the part people kinda forget about.”

Mr. Jenkins said a complicating factor is that it’s usually up to local communities to develop their own prevention programs.

“Look, we already have our hands full for the next 10 to 15 years dealing with what’s happened. If we don’t focus on addiction prevention now, we’re going to get another whole segment of our community dealing with it.”
Read the FULL ARTICLE at FAUQUIER NOW or download a PDF at the Piedmont Journalism Foundation