Butler County residents now armed with heroin antidote

BUTLER COUNTY — As drug overdose deaths continue to soar in Butler County, officials are putting a heroin antidote in the hands of citizens.

MORE: Drug overdoses remain leading cause of death in Butler County

Butler County is one of 50 places across the state that the Ohio Department of Health has started Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone).

Free kits that include two doses of Naloxone, or Narcan, as well as training on how to use the drug that blocks the effects of opioids, are available to friends and family members of addicts and other people who may come in contact with overdose victims.

“We have been working with the Butler County Department of Health on Project DAWN to hopefully reduce the amount of drug overdose deaths in the county,” Butler County Coroner Dr. Lisa Mannix said.

Narcan reverses the effects of opioids on the brain and revives a person who has overdosed, she said.

Each kit given must be accompanied by the training. Details on those education sessions can be found at www.butlercountyohio.org/Health or by calling 513-863-1770.

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