Opioid Overdose Prevention

Opiate Overdose Prevention and Survival

Do You or Someone You Know use Prescription Pain Medication or Heroin?

Families who have concerns for a family member can obtain training and Naloxone medication to reverse an overdose and SAVE  A LIFE.

People at risk for overdose:

  1. Those who take pain medication for chronic pain conditions
  2. Those that abuse opiate prescription drugs or heroin

Naloxone can be given into the nose to reverse the effects over taking too much opiate or heroin.

You can get training and a free Naloxone kit from the Duplin County Health Department, just call us at 910-296-2130.

Signs of an Overdose

  1. Unresponsive to shaking or shouting
  2. Slow breathing or not breathing
  3. Gasping for air or making a weird snoring sound
  4. Pale face, bluish skin, lips and nail beds
  5. Slow heart beat
  6. Throwing up and passing out, limp body

How to Avoid Overdose

  1. Only take medication that is prescribed for you
  2. Do not take more than directed
  3. Never mix pain pills and alcohol
  4. Dispose of unused an old medications safely
  5. Lock up your medications
  6. Learn what to do for an overdose
  7. Teach family and friends what to do

Medication Drop Boxes– Safe places to get rid of your old, unused medications.

Sheriff’s Office – Kenansville

Local Police Departments – Wallace, Warsaw and Beulaville

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association   https://www.samhsa.gov/

https://www.addicted.org/north-carolina-long-term-drug-rehab.html 

Summer Time

Beat the Heat- Heat related deaths are preventable. Who is more at risk? Children, older adults, people who work outside and people with disabilities.

Stay indoors with AC when possible, even a few hours will help. Drink plenty of WATER. Wear lightweight, loose fitting  clothing.

Your Car can be Deadly- If the outside temperature is 80 degrees it take less than 10 minutes for the inside of your car to reach 100 degrees!  Never leave children, pets or anyone in a car for any length of time. Even with the windows down the temperature will rise rapidly and can kill.

Heat- Related illnesses- Heat Rash, Sunburn, Heat Cramps, Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke.

https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/warning.html

Education in the Community

The Health Department provides educational material on a variety of  topics as a service to the community.

This may be by providing brochures, pamphlets or speakers for community groups on many topics

  1. breastfeeding
  2. chronic disease
  3. nutrition
  4. exercise
  5. immunizations
  6. family planning
  7. contraception
  8. STD and others

The Health Department can offer a speaker for a community event depending on the topic, timing and availability of staff.

We request at least two months notice to schedule a speaker for a community event. The Health Department has active links through out each section that can be a resource for more information or provide a source for data.