The Southeast Utah Health Department has an Opioid Awareness program that helps educate the community on opioid abuse. Health Promotions Director, Debbie Marvidakis took time to discuss some of the programs that fall under Opioid Prevention and Awareness.

“We have begun to reduce our opioid overdose deaths and one of the things that we were able to do here are our health department is we have the Narcan Program and you know Narcan is just simply a reversal for an opioid overdose,” said Marvidakis. Narcan is a nasal spray that you can administer when you suspect an opioid overdose while waiting for emergency medical assistance to arrive.

“We’ve been doing Narcan here at our health department since 2016. We provide it free. We don’t charge for it. We train folks on how to use it, its surprisingly very simply to use and I like to say that with our Narcan Program that the life you save is more than likely going to be someone that you love,” stated Marvidakis. Folks that wish to learn more about Narcan training can contact the health department.

Another great program that the health department is doing is bringing awareness to the community through media. “We’ve created flyers, and billboards, and radio ads, and believe it or not Dave, what you’re doing today in partnership with us is part of prevention. Letting folks know that there is help out there, and that there is hope, and that there are alternatives for folks that are using opioids,” said Marvidakis. Part of this is working closely with physicians to educate them to discuss with patients the hazards of opioid addiction.

Harm Reduction is part of the opioid prevention program as Marvidakis explains, “Harm Reduction is when we do HIV and Hep C testing free of charge, and then should someone test positive for that we are able to link them up to free services.” This could mean that they are referred to a local physician for further medical services or referred to other resources to help in their situation.

To learn more about Opioid Prevention and Awareness visit the Southeast Utah Health Department’s website or call them at (435) 637-3671.