OPIATE OVERDOSE PREVENTION

Project DAWN of Stark County

project_dawnProject DAWN, funded by the Ohio Department of Health, is focused on drug overdose prevention and emergency first-aid education for suspected opioid overdoses. Overdose prevention kits containing Naloxone are distributed locally to service providers Crisis Intervention & Recovery Center and CommQuest Services and are available at no charge to Stark County residents.

Naloxone (also known as Narcan®) is an intranasal spray medication that can reverse an overdose that is caused by an opioid drug. When administered during an overdose, Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and restores breathing within two to eight minutes. Naloxone has been used safely by emergency medical professionals for more than 40 years and has only one function: to reverse the effects of opioids on the brain and respiratory system in order to prevent death. Naloxone has no potential for abuse.

Naloxone does not reverse overdoses that are caused by non-opioid drugs such as cocaine, benzodiazepines (such as Xanax®, Klonopin® and Valium®), methamphetamines or alcohol.

PROJECT DAWN TRAINING INCLUDES:

  • Recognizing the signs and symptoms of overdose
  • Distinguishing between different types of overdose
  • Performing rescue breathing
  • Calling emergency medical services
  • Administering intranasal Naloxone

According to a recent CDC Publication », between 1996 and June 2010, more than 53,000 individuals have been trained and given Naloxone by overdose prevention programs, leading to reports of over 10,100 overdose reversals during this period.

Download the SAMHSA Opioid Overdose Toolkit » and find more information about Ohio’s Project DAWN » 

Additional opiate overdose resources:

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