JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Duval County is providing access to naloxone, a potentially lifesaving medication at Jacksonville clinics, in response to opioid deaths in Northeast Florida, according to a news release.
The medication will be free.
Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, restoring breathing and consciousness within minutes of administering it to a person who has overdosed. It is an easy medication to use and each kit consists of two naloxone nasal sprays with instructions.
Antonio Nichols, Health Officer for the Florida DOH in Duval Co., says that providing access to naloxone through county health departments, is crucial for people who have limited access to health care in rural areas and in preventing overdose deaths in Florida.
"In 2021, nearly 600 people died from drug overdoses in Duval County alone," said Nichols. "Opioids are responsible for 81 percent of those deaths. We can't prevent every opioid overdose in our community, but we can try to get this lifesaving medication into the hands of Duval County residents."
Click here to find a list of DOH-Duval naloxone distributing locations.