Overdose alert in Lexington

Republished from Kentucky Lantern

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has issued an overdose alert for Lexington.

The health department reports a spike in suspected nonfatal drug overdoses with 24 reported in four days, Sept 17-20, according to information from the Overdose Detection Mapping Application System (ODMAP).

“This is an important time to carry naloxone, used to reverse opioid overdoses, especially if you or someone you know has substance use disorder,” said the department’s communications officer Kevin Hall in a news release Friday. “Fentanyl has been found in all types of regulated drugs, so naloxone may help regardless of the drug taken.”

The department’s Harm Reduction Program provides naloxone to anyone who needs it. Naloxone kits are available 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays, 3-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays in the Dr. Rice C. Leach Community Room at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department, 650 Newtown Pike. People picking up the free naloxone also receive a 10-15-minute class in how to use it. 

The department recommends:

• Don’t use drugs alone
• If you or someone you know needs help with substance use disorder, visit https://findhelpnowky.org/ky to search for available treatment options (or call 1-833-859-4357 during business hours or 1-800-854-6813 after business hours)
• Check in on friends, family members, neighbors and others to share this information
• Call 911 if you suspect an overdose.

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com. Follow Kentucky Lantern on Facebook and Twitter. Kentucky Lantern stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

Donate to Kentucky Lantern here.

https://kentuckylantern.com/briefs/overdose-alert-in-lexington/