More Than 6000 Kits of Naloxone Distributed as Part of Stop Overdoses in Pa: Get Help Now Week

Harrisburg, PA – The Wolf Administration distributed 6105 kits of naloxone as part of Stop Overdoses in PA: Get Help Now Week, a statewide initiative to get the overdose reversal medication naloxone to Pennsylvanians and get help for residents suffering from the disease of opioid-use disorder.

“It is essential for people to have the lifesaving medication naloxone on hand,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “We are excited that Pennsylvanians are stepping up to help save lives. After the success of this event, we will work to determine if this can be done more frequently.”

As part of Stop Overdoses in PA: Get Help Now Week, thousands of residents went to a state health center, county/municipal health department or other location to pick up naloxone for free. Hundreds more left their names and will be contacted in the coming weeks to ensure they have naloxone on hand.

“It is important that people are aware that they can also go to their local pharmacy on any day to get the overdose reversal medication naloxone,” Dr. Levine said. “This medication reverses the effects of an opioid overdose and gives the patient a chance at recovery.”

“We cannot get someone into treatment if they are dead,” Governor Wolf said. “Naloxone saves lives and we should all carry it because you never know when you will get the chance to help someone. This year alone, emergency medical services have saved more than 9,000 Pennsylvanians using naloxone and transported 92 percent of them to the hospital for treatment.”

Since Governor Wolf first signed a heroin and opioid disaster declaration in January, 16 state agencies have continuously worked to fight the opioid epidemic and have made significant progress to help individuals and families dealing with this crisis. Some accomplishments include waiving birth certificate fees for individuals seeking treatment, using federal Medicaid funding in treatment facilities to provide more than 12,000 individuals access to medically necessary treatment, and providing career services to people who have been impacted by the opioid epidemic and plan to return to work.

For more information on Pennsylvania’s response to the opioid crisis visit https://www.pa.gov/guides/opioid-epidemic/#StopOverdosesinPAWeek.

MEDIA CONTACT: Nate Wardle, 717-787-1783

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EDITOR’S NOTE:

 Below is a total of the number of doses that were distributed by coordinating location in each county: