More Overdose Reversal Drug Coming To Rural Indiana Counties

The Indiana State Department of Health has awarded $127,000 in naloxone kits to rural Indiana counties. The opioid overdose reversal medication is going to the counties with high numbers of emergency room overdose visits.

Thirty-four rural counties will receive nearly 3,400 naloxone kits, to be distributed to first responders. The federal grant money is part of a larger $3.2 million gift the state received last year.

Some of the funding will be used for training. Justin Phillips leads Overdose Lifeline and works with the state to prepare law enforcement personnel. Some need more training than others.

“Police officers – this is completely out of their normal job description to administer medication,” she says.

Phillips says there are still many Hoosier counties in need of the lifesaving medication. The effort also seeks improve data collection.

She says this grant will also teach best practices in reporting methods.

“Help them understand why the importance of reporting and how to report so we can improve the picture of what is really happening in our state with data,” says Phillips.

To date, the state has granted more than 13,700 naloxone kits to Indiana health departments.

Through a standing order from the ISDH, naloxone is available over the counter to anyone in Indiana.