PARKERSBURG W.Va, (WTAP)- U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito announced Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded over $1.5 million dollars to the West Virginia Department of Health.
More commonly known as Narcan, naloxone is an expensive medicine used to block the effects of opioids, particularly in an overdose. The additional funds for the medicine will increase Narcan supply for first responders all across the state.
“We’ll be able to use that money towards other things such as out dated equipment or equipment that is in desperate need. Just looking at the amount of calls that we go on, the amount of doses of Narcan that we administer not only us but the local ambulance crews, with the money available to purchase Narcan and donate to local first responders will definitely be a great benefit,” says Jason Matthews, Parkersburg Fire Chief.
In 2017, the Parkersburg Fire Department administered about 100 doses of Narcan. In 2018 so far, they have administered over 50.