CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — May 7 is Fentanyl Awareness Day, and the Chesterfield Health District is offering tools in an effort to end overdoses.
The Chesterfield Health District will host a Revive Fentanyl Awareness event on Tuesday, May 7th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Midlothian Library, 100 Millworks Crossing. Registration The event is online.
Fatal overdoses from street drugs laced with fentanyl are on the rise, according to the Chesterfield Health District.
Compared to, state averageChesterfield County and Colonial Heights had higher rates of:
- Death due to drug overdose
- Emergency room visit with drug overdose
- Hospitalization due to overdose
It's important to know how to recognize the signs of an overdose and how to respond using naloxone.
Naloxone is an over-the-counter drug that reverses potentially fatal overdoses.
Jennifer Jurandeaux is a Medical Reserve Corps volunteer with the Chesterfield Health District and currently leads naloxone training. She witnessed firsthand her brother Mark Jurand's death from an overdose.
“If the housekeeping staff had naloxone, Mark might have survived,” Juland said.
According to the Chesterfield Health District, approximately 8 out of 10 people die from drug overdose Fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and tramadol were involved.
“I have three teenage sons. They are good, smart kids,” Juland said. “Don't think your child is too smart to take a friend's headache or ADHD medication. Or forget that your elderly parent has already taken a prescribed painkiller and then repeat it again. You might end up taking it.”
Jurlando encourages the community to attend naloxone training to educate themselves.
“It's better to have something and not need it than to need it and not have it,” Juland said. “Last year, I attended a naloxone training because the number of overdose deaths in my state was at an all-time high. I also attended a naloxone training session in the library, parking lot, and anywhere else where people could potentially overdose. I go to certain places often.”
