Save Lives! Fund Cabell's First Save-A-Life Day
Naloxone saves lives.
Here in Cabell County - known nationwide as the epicenter of the opioid epidemic – we know this well. We carried one of the highest overdose rates of all counties in West Virginia through 2020, increasing by over 30% from the previous year.
That's why Cabell will be one of 15 West Virginia counties that will be kicking off National Recovery Month by participating in Free Naloxone Day this September 1st – a day of action initiated by the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy (WVODCP).
On Free Naloxone Day, communities hit the streets to give out naloxone at no cost to its recipients, train individuals on how to administer naloxone, and provide recovery resources. Cabell County will be operating 6 different sites hosted by a consortium of non-profits, churches, schools, and the like: Saint Peter's Episcopal Community Outeach, Huntington Addiction Wellness Center, University of Charleston School of Pharmacy, Great Rivers Regional System for Addiction Care, First Steps Wellness and Recovery Center (Cabell-Huntington Coalition for the Homeless), Faith Health Appalachia, and more to come.
We, of course, need your help to make this happen.
The total cost of this action is $34,997.00. Here's the breakdown:
- Narcan Kits (Nasal) : $ 75.00 x 400 = $ 30,000.00
- Advertising Materials: $2,547.00
- Volunteer Shirts: $15.00 x 150 = $2,250.00
- Printing Costs = $200.00
- Volunteer Labor = Free!
There's the cost of the medication, and, given that this is Cabell County's first year participating, proper messaging will ensure we have the widest possible reach to inform our communities about this initiative.
We need to teach our neighbors the importance of carrying naloxone - how to stop an overdose and save a life. You never know when you'll run into a situation where you can help, but it can happen. It will happen to enough of you. That's why we need to make sure people know what to do when the time comes.
Any amount helps. So does boosting our message.
Learn more about:
- St. Peter's Community Outreach here.
- Huntington Addiction Wellness Center here.
- University of Charleston here.
- Great Rivers Regional System for Addiction Care here.
- First Steps Wellness and Recovery Center here.
- Faith Health Appalachia here.
