Naloxone overdose kits available at Fairbanks Public Health Center

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Substance misuse is an ongoing problem in Alaskan communities and the Fairbanks Public Health Center is here to help.

The Health Center works hard to combat substance misuse by distributing naloxone kits, and by providing training, education and resource counseling. The Naloxone kits, also known as Narcan kits, are a valuable resource that can counteract the effects of an opioid overdose.

Each Naloxone kit contains two nasal sprays and four fentanyl test strips. It also has instructions for use and information on how to identify overdose signs, which include shallow breathing, a slowed heartbeat, pale skin, and pinpoint pupils.

Erin Worley, a team lead with Fairbanks Public Health Center, explained that opioids “interfere with the part of the brain that tells us to breathe and our hearts to beat, so that’s why it’s so scary.”

The active ingredient in the nasal spray was recently changed to Kloxxado, which contains 8 milligrams of Naloxone per dose, about twice as strong as the previous Narcan recipe, which contains 4 milligrams of Naloxone per dose.

“It’s important to realize that these are really specific to opioid receptors,” Worley added. “If [the victim] were unconscious for some other reason but you weren’t sure why, it wouldn’t do any harm to administer this.”

Naloxone kits are recommended to be a part of every home or workplace first aid kit.

Fairbanks Public Health Center is also able to provide referrals for substance misuse treatment. They are located at 1025 West Barnette Street, and can be reached at 907-452-1776 or at 1-800-478-1777, or online at publichealthnursing.Alaska.gov.

Copyright 2023 KTVF. All rights reserved.