Narcan availability saving lives from overdoses

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI)- Family, friends, strangers and maybe even coworkers are all at risk of a possible overdose in someone’s life.

About 107,000 people died of overdoses in the U.S. last year, according to the Center for Disease Control. That’s down 3% from 2022, when there were an estimated 111,000 deaths.
that’s nearly a 10-thousand people who were saved because of Narcan.

Rick Strait is the substance use division director with the Community Counseling Center who advocates for the availability to Narcan.

Strait says, “I don’t think the data may give it full justice, clients talking about being revived by Narcan but not being treated, so that’s probably not being tracked any place, many people through what I do that have been saved or somebody in their family has had their lives saved by the use of Narcan.”

He says he’s sure everyone out there would want to have people around their family who can help save a life whether it’s by CPR, first aid or Narcan.

Strait says, “Who is out there to protect my kid, my grandkids, the people I care about? And if something were to happen to one of them, and none of them have an opioid disorder that I know of at least, I’d want everybody there to help them if they can.”

Chris Miller with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department speaks on how to properly use Narcan when a crisis may occur.

Miller says, “Narcan nasal spray super simple to administer all you need to do is just put it in one nostril, push the plunger and it just delivers the whole dose super simple, just one push, one nostril, that’s all you need, then definitely always call 911 for help because we can get there start IV’s and further monitor, your friend.”