EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso Community College (EPCC) is making a potentially life-saving drug accessible to all students and staff.
The college launched a Narcan distribution program at the beginning of August, hoping to encourage students and staff to learn about the importance of the medicine, and how to administer it.
“The college is just looking to be a good partner of the community. We all know that there’s an opioid issue going on not only across the country, but in our local community. And so we’re just giving medication to anybody that may encounter somebody that’s overdosed from an opioid like heroin or fentanyl, and they’re better prepared to administer the Narcan,” said EPCC Emergency Manager Hector Padilla.
The Narcan nasal spray is a medicine with the active ingredient Naloxone that helps reverse the effects of a life-threatening opioid emergency.
Padilla says two psychology professors from the Valle Verde Campus approached him about the idea. As of Friday, Aug. 16 they have already distributed over 70 boxes of Narcan, and have had to replenish their supply at the Valle Verde and Mission El Paso campuses.
They will offer periodic training to those interested in learning how to administer the medicine. Padilla explained that the training and process of administering Narcan is fairly simple and easy to learn, but valuable as an opioid emergency can happen anywhere and at any time.
You can find the EPCC Narcan distribution centers below:
Valle Verde Writing Center, A1425
Northwest Library, L100
Transmountain Library, 1600
Mission del Paso Tutoring Center, E108
Rio Grande Library, E100
Rio Grande Border Health Clinic, 1001 El Paso St.
The El Paso Harm Reduction Alliance (EPHRA), composed of volunteers that promote education and training in the sectors of public and mental health, as well as substance use, praised the initiative and believe it is crucial to expand accessibility to Narcan everywhere possible.
“So typically in an overdose situation, what happens is a lack of oxygen to the brain. And so time is of the essence. And that’s why we advocate for everyone (to carry) Narcan, everyone being able to have Narcan on hand, because really seconds do matter. And it could be the difference between waking up and not waking up from an overdose,” said Mariah Alvarez, co-chair for the EPHRA,
August is Overdose Awareness Month, and as such, Alvarez explained that it is important to educate the public about the complexity of the opioid epidemic and substance use plaguing communities across the country.
“A lot of times I hear in the community, ‘Well they chose to pick that up. Well, they choose to do that.’ And it’s a lack of understanding that substance use disorder is indeed a disease (that causes) a chemical alteration to the brain. So now these individuals aren’t choosing to use a substance. They have to use the substance because of the way that their brain is restructured,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez added that the topic is very stigmatized, and oftentimes substance users aren’t aware that the opioid they consume has a higher dosage or that it has been cross-contaminated, resulting in unintended overdoses.
On Saturday, Aug. 31 the EPHRA will host a vigil at Memorial Park on 1701 N. Copia St. for International Overdose Awareness Day, to remember the lives lost in the Borderland community due to overdose.
The event will consist of a presentation on substance use disorder and a candlelight ceremony. There will also be opportunities for people to share their thoughts and stories.
They’re also asking the community to submit names, stories, and photos of their loved ones who may have died from overdose. You can find more information on the event by visiting their Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/ephraforchange/
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