Inmates leaving the Vanderburgh County jail will be offered free naloxone inhalers. WNIN’s John Gibson has details:
The sheriff’s office has partnered with Evansville Recovery Alliance for the life-saving medication, known by the commercial name Narcan.
Noah Robinson is Vanderburgh County Sheriff:
"Someone who's being released from the jail will be given an opportunity to take two doses of Narcan with them and a kit that includes a digital instruction manual as well as links to other community assets to help them in recovery."
Robinson says data shows freed inmates are ten times more likely to suffer an opioid overdose:
"If them obtaining a dose of Narcan that can sustain their life and let them live another day and have a chance at recovery, have a chance to make something of themselves then we're going to provide that."
Lavender Timmons of Evansville Recovery Alliance say the ultimate goal of distributing Narcan is to save lives:
"Getting Narcan to people who are in active use or in proximity to active use is the most efficient way to reduce overdoses."
The program is expected to be up and running by the end of the week.