The Lake County General Health District is combating the opioid crisis in a multitude of ways, one being through distribution of naloxone to community members and law enforcement personnel.
What is Naloxone?
Naloxone (also known as Narcan®) is a medication that can reverse an overdose caused by an opioid drug (heroin or prescription pain medications). When administered during an overdose, naloxone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and quickly restores breathing. Naloxone has one critical function: to reverse the effects of opioids in order to prevent overdose death. Naloxone has no potential for abuse. Naloxone DOES NOT reverse overdoses that are caused by non-opioid drugs, such as cocaine, benzodiazepines (e.g. Xanex, Klonopin and Valium), methamphetamines, or alcohol.
Free Training Options
Who should take the training?
Individuals, family, friends, businesses, or the general public to assist someone in an overdose emergency.
- Online Mail Order – Self-paced Instruction
- Watch training video, electronically sign consent forms, and receive a free kit in the mail
- Watch training video, electronically sign consent forms, and receive a free kit in the mail
- 60 minute In-Person (Instructor Led)
- Course covers Lake County specific data, overdose signs/symptoms, how to use naloxone, liability concerns, and free naloxone kit
- To schedule a training, contact Nikesha Yarbrough 440-350-2844
- 60 minute Virtual (Instructor Led)
- Similar to in-person training using virtual learning platforms
- To schedule a training, contact Nikesha Yarbrough 440-350-2844
Community Members
Project DAWN
(Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) is a community-based overdose education
and naloxone distribution program. Project DAWN participants receive training to:
- Recognize the signs and symptoms of an overdose
- Distinguish between different types of overdoses
- Perform rescue breathing
- Call EMS
- Administer naloxone
Project DAWN naloxone kits are always given at no cost to the client. Family, friends, and loved ones of individuals who are at risk of opioid overdose, as well as those at personal risk of overdose, are eligible to attend an overdose prevention training and receive kits.
Kits include:
- 2 doses of 4 mg/.01 mL of Narcan® Nasal Spray
- 1 face shield
LCGHD is temporarily suspending all in-person Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) clinics, and is instead directing residents to the online training and kit request. A kit will be provided to participants at no cost. Eligible participants include Lake county residents as well as residents of counties who do not currently have a Project DAWN program. Kits will be mailed within 72 hours of approval of the request.
*If you need immediate assistance please visit The Ohio Pharmacy Board to find a local pharmacy that can dispense naloxone without a prescription.
If you would like to register for the next Project DAWN clinic, would like more information or would like to become a distribution center, please contact:
Nikesha Yarbrough
Program Coordinator
Phone: (440) 350-2844
Email: nyarbrough@lcghd.org
The Lake County General Health District receives funding from the Ohio Department of Health to provide our community with the lifesaving medication, Naloxone.
Law Enforcement
The Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMAS) provides funding
to the Lake County General Health District to supply Naloxone to local law enforcement, emergency medical services personnel, and first responders who are not able to bill or be reimbursed for dispensing Naloxone.
We currently distribute to the following local agencies:
- Eastlake Police Department
- Fairport Harbor Police Department
- Holden Arboretum Police Department
- Lake County Sheriff’s Office
- Lake Metroparks Ranger Department
- Lakeland Community College
- Madison Township Police Department
- Madison Village Police Department
- Mentor Police Department
- Mentor-on-the-Lake Police Department
- North Perry Police Department
- Perry Village Police Department
- Waite Hill Police Department
- Willowick Police Department
- Wickliffe Police Department
If you would like more information, please contact:
Nikesha Yarbrough
Program Coordinator
Phone: (440) 350-2844
Email: nyarbrough@lcghd.org
Additional Resources
- Ohio Department of Health Project DAWN https://odh.ohio.gov/know-our-programs/project-dawn/project-dawn
- Take Charge Ohio https://takecharge.ohio.gov/
- Recovery Ohio https://recoveryohio.gov/
- The Soar Initiative https://thesoarinitiative.org/
