As the number of overdose deaths continues to rise in Jefferson County each year, the county health department wants to spread the word about public training to teach community members how to reverse an overdose and provide them with the tools to do so. thinking. . The Jefferson County Health Department is also distributing free Narcan kits and fentanyl test strips to active users. More than 400 women are actively recovering at the Lovelady Center in east Birmingham, but those who have lived on the other side of addiction are grateful to see the initiative taken. It has said. As long as drugs exist, Amber Gibson said Thursday. Overdosing was part of her life. “The first time I used drugs was when I was 12 with her mother,” Gibson said. “She’s really crazy because her mother actually died of an overdose,” she said. Told. “The last thing I remember was getting high, and I don’t remember anything after that until I woke up in the hospital and was told I had to hit three times with Narkan to wake up.” explained Gibson. Gibson said she now has a chance to live a clean life thanks to her life-saving medicine. She is a Lovelady at her center where she has been with for 17 months helping other women live full, healthy and clean lives. “It’s been a long struggle for me,” Gibson said. The center’s foreign affairs director, Frank Long, said overdoses were part of many stories. “If you’ve been in an active addiction for many years, you certainly know what it is,” Long says. “It’s a common occurrence.” Dr. Darlene Traffonstead, medical director of the Jefferson County Health Department, said the number of overdose deaths in the county has skyrocketed over the past few years. “These overdoses are happening at petrol stations, fast food restaurants, homes, businesses and schools,” Trafanstedt said. “It has mostly to do with the illegally manufactured fentanyl that has permeated the drug market here.” As of Thursday, Jefferson County had 249 confirmed overdoses so far this year, plus 64 are suspected. This number has already surpassed the number for 2019 as a whole. “July this year saw the most overdose calls,” Trafanstedt said. That’s why Trafanstedt said public training by the county health department is important. Not only do they teach community members how to administer Narcan, they also distribute Narcan kits that come with two doses to anyone who wants them, and those who are actively using the drug. They also distribute fentanyl test strips. ” We want people to think. We treat naloxone in the same way, that it’s a bystander drug,” Traffanstedt said. “It requires minimal training to use. In fact, later this year there will be a commercial version that requires no training, so anyone can use this to save lives.” “I believe this is life-saving. Even if you don’t think you personally know someone who is at risk of overdosing, you may still encounter someone overdosing.” There is an opportunity to save that person’s life.” Long and Gibson believe it can be done. It makes a difference not only in keeping someone alive, but also in helping them live a clean and sober life. “This is just a battle and we have to give it our all,” Long said. “It’s going to show a lot of people that they’re trying to save our lives, but we’re not going to save ours,” Gibson said. The next public training will be: September 9th at East Pinson Recreation Center 11am-2pm September 16th at Birmingham Recovery Rally – at UAB Mini Park – 10am-6pm September Fiesta Birmingham 30th – Lynn Park US ON SOCIAL: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube So far in 2023, the Jefferson County Health Department has distributed over 3,500 Narkan kits. Kits can be mailed free of charge anywhere in Alabama and can be picked up at any health department or participating pharmacy.
As the number of overdose deaths continues to rise in Jefferson County each year, the county health department wants to spread the word about public training to teach community members how to reverse an overdose and provide them with the tools to do so. thinking. .
The Jefferson County Health Department is also distributing free Narcan kits and fentanyl test strips to active users.
More than 400 women are actively working on their recovery at the Lovelady Center in east Birmingham, and those who have lived on the other side of addiction are grateful to see this effort taking place. Say you are.
Amber Gibson said Thursday that as much as drugs are a part of her life, so are overdoses.
“The first time I used drugs was when I was 12 with my mother,” Gibson said. “She’s really crazy because her mother actually died of an overdose.”
Mr Gibson said he almost suffered the same fate years later.
“The last thing I remember was getting high, and I don’t remember anything after that until I woke up in the hospital and was told I had to hit three times with Narkan to wake up.” explained Gibson.
Gibson said the life-saving medication now gave him the chance to live a clean life. She has been with the Love Lady Center for 17 months helping other women live full, healthy and clean lives.
“It’s been a long struggle for me,” Gibson said.
The center’s foreign affairs director, Frank Long, said overdoses were part of many stories.
“If you’ve been in an active addiction for many years, you certainly know what it is,” Long says. “It’s a common occurrence.”
Dr. Darlene Traffonstead, medical director of the Jefferson County Health Department, said the number of overdose deaths in the county has skyrocketed over the past few years.
“These overdoses are happening at petrol stations, fast food restaurants, homes, businesses and schools,” Trafanstedt said. “Mostly related to illegally manufactured fentanyl permeating the pharmaceutical market here.”
As of Thursday, Jefferson County has 249 confirmed overdose deaths so far this year, and another 64 suspected overdoses. This number has already surpassed the number for 2019 as a whole.
“July this year saw the most overdose calls,” Trafanstedt said.
That’s why Trafanstedt said public training by the county health department is important. Not only do they teach community members how to administer Narcan, they also distribute Narcan kits that come with two doses to anyone who wants them, and those who are actively using the drug. We will also distribute fentanyl test strips.
“I want people to think of naloxone in the same frame of mind that naloxone is a bystander drug,” Trafanstedt said. “It requires minimal training to use. In fact, later this year there will be a commercial version that requires no training, so anyone can use this to save lives.” “I believe this is life-saving. Even if you don’t feel like you know someone directly at risk of overdosing, you may run into someone overdosing and that You may have an opportunity to save someone’s life.”
Long and Gibson believe it can make a difference, not just in keeping someone alive, but in helping them live a clean, sober life.
“This is just a battle and we have to give it our all,” Long said.
“It’s going to show a lot of people that they’re trying to save our lives, but we’re not going to save ours,” Gibson said.
The next public training will be:
- September 9, 11am-2pm at East Pinson Recreation Center
- 16th September Birmingham Recovery Rally – UAB Mini Park from 10am to 6pm
- 30th September Fiesta Birmingham – Lynn Park
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So far in 2023, the Jefferson County Health Department has distributed more than 3,500 Narkan kits.
Kits can be mailed free of charge anywhere in Alabama and can be picked up at any health department or participating pharmacy.