In June 2014, Gov. Jack Markell (D-Delaware) signed the community naloxone bill, allowing the public to learn how to administer drugs to revive those who have overdosed on opiates. Now, the Department of Health and Social Services say that two people are requesting more after using doses successfully on loved ones.
Initially, the state trained members of the community on how to use naloxone through a nasal spray. Since early August, Brandywine Counseling, which runs the state’s Syringe Exchange Program, taught almost 500 people to use Evzio, brand of naloxone that injects the drug into the victim’s body.
Domenica Personti is the director of adolescent services and prevention at Brandywine Counseling. She says that the auto-injector is easier to use than the intranasal spray, which requires more training.
“Almost like when someone chokes--you know the Heimlich, but when it actually happens, people tend to freeze and forget. The autoinjector will talk you through the process," said Personti.
It’s also free of charge, since Evzio was donated by its developer, Kaléo, based in Richmond, Va. But Personti expects the donationwill run out in three or four months, even though it was expected to expire by February. Brandywine Counseling hopes to get another grant or donation to continue expanding nalaxone’s use in the community.
“We always want to expand the program out," said Personti,"and we would love to see the intranasal [spray] get to people at no cost as well.”
