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Mid Michigan District Health Department credits county funding for distribution of 3,500 first-aid kits including Narcan
Summary
A public commenter representing the Mid Michigan District Health Department told commissioners the health department distributed roughly 3,500 first-aid kits containing Narcan over two-and-a-half years, and credited prior county funding for supporting the work to reduce opioid deaths.
A Mid Michigan District Health Department representative told the Montcalm County Board of Commissioners on March 24 that the department has placed Narcan in about 3,500 first-aid kits over the last two-and-a-half years and credited county dollars as part of the effort to expand community access to opioid overdose reversal medication.
The speaker said the health department wanted to destigmatize Narcan by marketing it as a first-aid item and distributing the kits broadly; early reluctance from community members who said they did not know anyone who used opioids required local outreach and education. The presenter said the department uses messaging such as “never use drugs alone” to reduce risk and explained that Narcan has been used to revive people in the community.
The presenter provided an estimate of lives saved, saying recent statistics suggested one life saved for roughly every 36 Narcan uses; extrapolating from 3,500 kits distributed, the speaker estimated between about 30 and 76 lives saved, and said the figure could be as high as nearly 50 based on other estimates. The presenter stressed these were estimates and that distribution also included instructions that family members or pet owners could use Narcan in cases of accidental ingestion.
Commissioners did not take action; the presentation was delivered during public comment as a thank-you for prior county funding and to explain program outcomes and local outreach.
