Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Naloxone And Peer Support topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Vernon County expands Narcan access, distributes medication lock boxes and advances peer recovery supports
Summary
Committee members reported $11,500 spent on medication lock boxes, a peer specialist in training at Knutson Library and that the county is now a Narcan Direct participant with the state, enabling direct resupply of naloxone.
Vernon County staff and committee members reported several operational steps on Feb. 12 to expand local opioid response capacity.
Cassandra Hanan, Vernon County Administrative Coordinator, said Knutson Library now has a peer specialist in training and that the library is expanding peer recovery supports, increasing marketing and working toward a recovery coach academy. Hanan also reported the Health Department has distributed medication lock boxes at events and clinics and has spent $11,500 on those boxes to date.
Amy Kleiber, Vernon County Health Officer, told the committee the county is now a Narcan Direct participant with the state of Wisconsin, which allows the Health Department to receive additional naloxone doses directly from the state rather than routing supply through the sheriff’s department. The change is intended to streamline restocking and distribution at clinics and community events.
During member sharing, Mary Henry raised the possibility of a public health vending machine similar to one at Baraboo hospital; members discussed funding for restocking and staff time to manage a machine. The group also discussed placing Narcan in schools and effective signage. Steve Micheals, Westby Area Schools superintendent, said he would consult with school administrators about Narcan locations and curricula being taught about opioids.
The committee noted Narcan is placed in AED locations in county office buildings but did not adopt a new county-wide policy on school placement at this meeting.
