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Local coalitions offer Narcan "leave-behind" bags and direct referral for people who want help
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Summary
Greg Clements of Hartsville Hope and Healing Alliance introduced Alexis Woodard of the Williamson Prevention Coalition, who offered Narcan leave-behind bags, fentanyl test strips and immediate referral and transportation for people seeking treatment; she offered training and cards first responders can distribute.
Greg Clements, representing the Hartsville Hope and Healing Alliance, introduced Alexis Woodard of the Williamson Prevention Coalition to offer a local overdose-response and referral service to first responders.
"If you encounter somebody who is using or struggling, if you just give them my card, they can call me, and I can get them linked up with whatever services it is that they need," Woodard said, describing a program that provides referral cards and "leave-behind" bags that include Narcan, xylazine and fentanyl test strips and instructions for use.
Woodard said the coalition covers several counties (Williamson, Rutherford, Cannon and Trousdale) and works directly with first responders to connect people to detox, short- and long-term residential treatment and transportation resources. She said grant funding supports a transportation partner who can pick people up and drop them off anywhere within Tennessee, addressing a major barrier to treatment access.
The coalition said first responders can receive training on Narcan administration that counts toward their service hours, although Woodard said officers can still hand out her referral cards without completing training. She also offered to provide the cards and bags directly to county responders.
Committee members thanked the visitors and the meeting adjourned shortly after the presentation.
