Gerald’s Community Outreach has installed a naloxone dispensary box outside their building at 17 E. Fourth Street.

Naloxone, the generic form of Narcan, is a nasal spray to be used in a known or suspected opioid overdose. It temporarily reverses the effects of an overdose long enough to get the patient medical attention, according to Prevent+Ed.

Naloxone works by attaching to opioid receptors in the brain and blocking their effects. It carries NO RISK OF MISUSE and has no effect on people who have not consumed opioids.

Signs of an opioid overdose include:

• Unresponsiveness

• Cold, clammy skin

• Blue or purple fingernails and lips

• Pinpoint pupils

• Choking, with or without gurgling sounds

If you suspect an overdose, call 911 even after administering naloxone.

Naloxone doesn’t require any formal training to use and is packaged in a small, easy-to-carry device. Stay calm to ensure correct usage.

Put the patient on their back with their  neck supported and head tilted back. Peel back the package to remove the device, and place your first and middle fingers on either side of the nozzle. Place and hold the tip of the nozzle in either nostril your fingers touch the bottom of the person’s nose. Press the plunger firmly with your thumb to release the dose of naloxone. If the person does not resume breathing in 1-2 minutes another dose can be  administered in the other nostril. Call 911 after administering naloxone. It is effective in the body for 30-90 minutes.

Even if you aren’t sure if the individual is experiencing an opioid overdose, administering naloxone will  not have any adverse effects and can help save a life. Missouri’s

Good Samaritan Law protects and encourages citizens to emergency medical attention if they experience or witness an overdose.

If you have been prescribed naloxone, tell family, friends, and others around you about it in case of emergency and show them how to use it. Naloxone cannot be self-administered.

Prevent+Ed provides Narcan to the general public for free and it is also available over-the-counter at pharmacies. They also provide overdose education and training to help community members understand opioid overdoses and prevent them.