WASHBURN COUNTY -- In partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services’ NARCAN® Direct Program, the Washburn County Health Department is able to provide free NARCAN® to members of the community.
Opioids are powerful drugs. Prescription painkillers, heroin, and fentanyl are responsible for more deaths in Wisconsin each year than car crashes. NARCAN® safely reverses the effects of an opioid overdose for 30 to 90 minutes, and only affects people with opioids in their body.
Anyone can carry NARCAN®. You should carry NARCAN® if you, a friend, or a family member takes or uses opioids or if you encounter people who take or use opioids, such as shelter staff, hotel staff, convenience store workers, and librarians. Wisconsin laws state that any person may possess a medication to reverse an opioid overdose, such as NARCAN®. They may also administer or give it.
Under the Wisconsin Good Samaritan Law, you cannot be held civilly liable for a good faith effort to provide assistance in a life-threatening situation. State law also provides limited immunity from criminal prosecution for certain amounts of controlled substance possession and the possession of drug paraphernalia for a person who aids another person who experienced an overdose from a controlled substance.
Individuals interested in receiving free NARCAN® through the Washburn County Health Department should call 715-635-4400 to schedule an appointment. A short training is required for individuals receiving their first dose(s) of NARCAN® through the Health Department. This training will go through the signs of opioid overdose, what to do if you encounter someone experiencing an opioid overdose, and how to use NARCAN®. Individuals may receive additional doses if they use their initial doses.
Organizations and businesses interested in carrying NARCAN® and hosting training for staff should contact the Health Department at health@co.washburn.wi.us
For more information on opioids, visit here.
Last Update: Jun 07, 2022 11:33 am CDT
