WASSAJA CLINIC HOSTS NARCAN DRIVE THRU
By Harrison J. Bahe
On the evening of September 17th, 2024, the Wassaja Memorial Health Center hosted a Narcan drive thru in which anybody could drive on through to receive a box of free Narcan. No paperwork. No questions asked. The Clinic received a healthy flow of community members who drove on through. They were given the Narcan, told the basics of how to use it, and were given a complimentary bag of popcorn provided by Wassaja Family Services.
“Naloxone, better known by its brand name Narcan, is an antidote to opioid drugs. Opioids can slow or stop a person’s breathing, leading to death. Naloxone helps a person who has opioids in his or her body wake up and keep breathing. An overdose death may happen hours after taking drugs. If a bystander acts when it is first noticed that a person’s breathing has slowed, or when the user cannot be awakened, there is time to call 911, start rescue breathing (if needed) and give Naloxone. Naloxone is safe and effective; emergency medical professionals have used it for decades.” According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
So, how does naloxone (Narcan) work? “Naloxone reverses an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of opiates on the brain and by restoring breathing. Naloxone will only work if a person has opiates in their system and will not work with other drugs. A person cannot get “high” from using naloxone, and it is safe for practically anyone to use.” Based on the Anne Arundel County Department of Health in Annapolis, Maryland.
The Clinic does carry Narcan in its pharmacy, however, patients need to have a chart on file to receive it. “I contacted the Arizona Health Department and they sent us a few cases of the Narcan, so we decided to have this event and help educate the community of how important it is.” Acting Medical Director Dr. Francesca Baile shared. This was a way to bypass the need for a chart to receive a potentially life saving application.
“Narcan is something that’s a really great essential to have in everyone’s household or even in your car, too, because you never really know when you might come across somebody [who is overdosing] and you could be that person that saves their life.” Pharmacist Jasmine Anderson shares. The Good Samaritan Law in Arizona states that a person who in good faith and without compensation administers an opioid antagonist (a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose such as Narcan) to a person who is experiencing an opioid-related overdose is not liable for any civil or other damages as a result of any act or omission while rendering the care or as the result of any act or failure to act to arrange for further medical treatment or case for the person experiencing the overdose, unless the person while rendering the care acts with gross negligence, willful misconduct or intentional wrongdoing. “You’re covered if you think someone is overdosing on an opioid or heroin or fentanyl and you’re able to use the Narcan. You’re covered by that Good Samaritan Law which means that you’re able to save that life.”
The Clinic plans to do more of these Narcan drive thru events but no dates have been selected, so please keep an eye out for future announcements. “I think the more we educate the community, the more lives we can save.” Dr. Baile concludes.
