Naloxone training, fentanyl test strips distributed across north central West Virginia

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — Hundreds of setups were set up across north central West Virginia on Thursday, giving people a chance to learn about drug overdoses, as well as receive free naloxone (Narcan) training and fentanyl test strips.

The setups were a part of Save a Life Day, a national event that looks to educate the public on the dangers of drug overdoses and distribute resources to combat them. Groups in several states east of the Mississippi River participated in the occasion on Thursday, including every county in West Virginia.

“We’ve got a lot of college students and college students, they like to experiment, they like to do recreational drugs and one of the big things we’re seeing is a fentanyl increase and fentanyl is extremely dangerous in small qualities and it can easily take a life. So what we like to do is we like educate parents that it’s really good to have Narcan on hand,” Monongalia County Health Department QRT Brittany Irick said.

Fentanyl test strips have received mixed reactions from the public in the past, but Irick emphasized that these strips are life-saving. “If students are going to experiment we would like for them to know that Fentanyl is in their drugs so they can have that Narcan on hand. The fentanyl may not deter them, we hope that it would but if it doesn’t then having that Narcan on hand can ensure that we’re going to hopefully save their life,” said Irick.

Irick said if someone is going to administer Narcan, they should call 911. She wants people to remember that West Virginia’s Good Samaritan Law will apply to them if they are involved in an overdose situation but call for help. The Good Samaritan Law provides certain criminal immunities for people who seek help for a person who has overdosed.

If you could not make it to the event, officials said that you can call your local county’s health department. For Monongalia County residents, if you need additional Narcan or Narcan training, you can call 304-598-5100.

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