Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Deborah McMahan and Executive Board of Health President Dr. William Pond are pleased State Health Commissioner Dr. Jerome M. Adams renewed the statewide standing order for Hoosiers to access lifesaving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses.

The standing order removes barriers for Hoosiers to access lifesaving opioid overdose reversing medication called naloxone. Individuals seeking naloxone can visit www.optIN.in.gov to find an entity registered to provide naloxone and obtain the medication without first getting a prescription from their own prescriber. Nearly 500 locations, including pharmacies, nonprofits and local health departments, are listed on the site.

“It’s so important for family and friends of loved ones with substance use disorder or on long term opioids for pain to have access to this life-saving medication without having to worry about overcoming barriers,” said Allen County Health Commissioner Dr. Deborah McMahan, “It’s important for them to have easy access to this and be trained on how to administer it. After all, it saves lives!”

Naloxone is a non-narcotic medication that reverses respiratory failure that’s usually the cause of overdose deaths. It reverses opioid overdoses and revives people who might have died without treatment. Naloxone’s only been proven to be effective at reversing overdoses of opioid drugs like heroin or prescription painkillers. The medication is approved by the Food and Drug Administration and has been used for more than 40 years by emergency medical services personnel.

“I and members of the Executive Board of Health thoroughly support evidence-based measures, like naloxone, that have been proven to decrease mortality,” said Allen County Executive Board of Health President Dr. William Pond.

In April, the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health launched the Naloxone Education, Access, and Training Clinic, also known as the “NEAT Clinic” at the Medical Annex. The NEAT Clinic is by appointment only and offers overdose education, hands-on naloxone training, and a naloxone prescription for family or friends of those with substance use disorder or on long term opioids for pain. To schedule an appointment, call (260) 449-7504.