Free Naloxone Day will be held on Friday, April 18 by Monongalia County QRT

Apr. 15, 2025

Free Naloxone Day will be held on Friday, April 18 by Monongalia County QRT

MORGANTOWN, WV (April 15, 2025) — Naloxone, sometimes known by its brand name, Narcan, is a medication administered like nose spray that can save a life by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose.
The Monongalia County Quick Response Team (QRT), funded by grants secured by Monongalia County Health Department, has been holding events for about five years now to distribute free naloxone to community members.
A mini Free Naloxone Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 18.
Free naloxone as well as naloxone instruction, as well as fentanyl test strips, will be provided at three locations: Sabraton McDonald's, WVU Mountainlair and Monongalia County Courthouse.
“Giving out naloxone can often wedge open the door a little and start the conversation between an individual with substance use disorder and a peer recovery coach or medical provider,” said Joe Klass, a member of the QRT as well as chief of operations for Monongalia County Health Department’s Threat Preparedness program.
Naloxone is great to keep on hand for a variety of reasons, Klass continued, including in a medicine cabinet at home.
“People who take the wrong dose of medicine or a child who gets into someone’s prescriptions could be saved with naloxone,” he said.
Once naloxone is administered, 911 should be called to continue treatment.
“Naloxone is very safe,” Klass noted. “If it turns out the person was having another type of medical emergency, it won’t hurt them.”
Learn more about naloxone and the Monongalia County Quick Response Team by going to this link:https://www.monchd.org/services/naloxone-narcan