Rotary donates 24 Naloxboxes to Broome County

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – Broome County is normalizing harm reduction and making it easier to access lifesaving medication with the placement of additional Narcan distribution boxes.

Central New York Rotary, the Broome County Health Department Overdose Prevention Program, and the county government announced that 24 Naloxboxes will be placed around the community. The project is made possible by a Global Rotary Grant of $53,000.

Additionally, Chenango County is getting 19 Naloxboxes and Delaware County will get 28.

Each Naloxbox contains free overdose prevention kits.

Narcan is a safe, easy to use, low-risk medication that enables a person to start breathing again, ultimately saving their life.

“It is our hope that our efforts will give the public a better understanding how easily it is to save the life of a person who experienced an opioid overdose,” said Rouff.

So far this year, Broome County has seen a suspected total of 169 overdoses.

Amanda Lewis is a Broome County resident who is in recovery. She has survived multiple overdoses because of naloxone and now works professionally with those who battle substance use disorder.

Lewis urges everyone to carry Narcan because you don’t know when you might have to save a life.

“When I was in active use, Naloxone wasn’t as readily available. One thing I would like to note is the importance of carrying Naloxone. Individuals that are using substances that are in jeopardy of experiencing an overdose crisis are someone’s family member, friend, coworker, neighbor, and you have the opportunity to save a life,” said Lewis.

The Naloxboxes will be placed on county government owned, rented, and operated facilities such as parks, the bus station, and senior centers. Business owners can also apply for a Naloxbox through the county.

News 34 will air an hour-long special on the Fentanyl crisis titled “Saving a Generation” It will air on WIVT News 34 next Wednesday at 10 p.m. and again on WBGH NBC-5 Thursday at 7.

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