The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Gulf Park Health Center is now offering a lifesaving medication to reverse the effects of opioid overdose. Gulf Park faculty and staff can now head over to the Gulf Park Health Center to pick up Narcan/Naloxone kits.
Gulf Park Health Center Nurse Practitioner Connie Richardson said this is needed and beneficial for the community.
“This program is important for the safety of our students on campus,” said Richardson. “Faculty and staff are aware of signs of opiate overdose, and now will be armed with the resources to intervene quickly in case of such an emergency.”
To take advantage of the opportunity, faculty and staff must fill out a form and watch a short training video. Once the video is completed, an ID is required to pick up the kit. A limited supply is available.
The kits have been provided by the Mississippi Department of Health Pharmacy.
Drug overdose is the leading cause of injury-related deaths in the United States. Young adults ages 18-25 are the largest group of users of prescription drugs. Over 109,000 people have died from opioid overdoses in the nation.
For more information, call 228-214-3300 or visit the Gulf Park Health Center.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in almost forty percent of overdose deaths, someone was present. The CDC offers five rules of what one should do to save a life:
