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Walworth County HHS highlights naloxone training, OakBoxes and schedules countywide Narcan session
Summary
Health and Human Services staff presented a condensed naloxone (Narcan) training, described an OakBox program and naloxone distribution, and the board voted to request a Narcan training before or after a county board meeting.
Desi Bongard, the county’s community substance abuse specialist, gave a condensed training on opioids and naloxone at the Walworth County Health and Human Services Board meeting on Feb. 19, 2025, outlining how to recognize an opioid overdose and use intranasal naloxone.
Bongard told the board that “naloxone is an opioid antagonist medication, and it's used to block or reverse the effects of an opioid, drug.” She described naloxone’s safety profile and practical limits, saying “it does wear off pretty quickly, so it wears off in 30 to 90 minutes,” and warned of the potential for re‑overdose when naloxone fades. The county’s training focuses on intranasal naloxone and on calling 911 as the first step in any suspected overdose.
The presentation included prevention measures promoted by HHS: keeping medications secure, proper disposal at local drop boxes, and distribution of neutralizing disposal bags at the county office. Bongard described an OakBox program — small metal wall boxes stocked with naloxone and prevention supplies — that the county is installing at businesses and public sites. “We have about 5 or 6 right now at the county,” she said, and noted the county both gives naloxone during on‑site trainings and distributes neutralizing bags and supplies to community partners.
Board members and other speakers praised the outreach work and emphasized stigma reduction and training for workplaces. A board presenter said the county “is a Narcan Direct provider” and that about 900 naloxone doses were distributed in 2024 through county efforts and partner sites.
After discussion about offering a longer, board‑level training, a motion was made and seconded to request a special meeting (a committee of the whole) to deliver Narcan training before or after a county board meeting at the county board chair’s discretion. The motion carried.
Votes at a glance
- Motion to approve meeting agenda — moved by Supervisor Brian Holt; second entered; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Motion to approve minutes from January (pages 2–3) — mover/second not specified in transcript; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Motion to request a Narcan training session at or near a county board meeting (at chair’s discretion) — mover not specified; seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Motion to adjourn — second by Judy Atkinson; outcome: approved (voice vote).
Why it matters: The county highlighted naloxone distribution and on‑site trainings as core parts of its opioid settlement and prevention strategy, and the board approved scheduling a broader training to reach more elected officials and community partners.
Context and next steps: HHS staff said trainings typically run about 45 minutes with additional time for questions. Staff also asked board members to share contacts (businesses, taverns, Alpine Valley Resort) that could host OakBoxes or accept naloxone on site; HHS said it can procure more OakBoxes and naloxone supplies on request.
