Naloxone Distribution Program

Naloxone Distribution Program

In partnership with the New Jersey Department of Human Services, MCLS is participating in New Jersey’s Naloxone Distribution Program – designed to ensure communities across Mercer County impacted by the opioid epidemic have low-barrier access to Naloxone (Narcan).

“Specifically, Naloxone is used in opioid overdoses to counteract life-threatening depression of the central nervous system and respiratory system, allowing an overdose victim to breathe normally. Naloxone is a nonscheduled (i.e., non-addictive), prescription medication. Naloxone only works if a person has opioids in their system; the medication has no effect if opioids are absent.”

Opioid Overdose Basics – National Harm Reduction Coalition

Overdose Prevention / Harm Reduction Kits

Each of the nine MCLS branches has kits available for distribution. No prescription is needed to access Narcan from the MCLS branches. In each Overdose Prevention / Harm Reduction Kit you will find:

  • Naloxone (Narcan) – used to reverse and opioid overdose
  • DMHAS Overdose Fact Sheet – teaches about how to use Naloxone
  • Free Naloxone Trainings Information Sheet
  • CPR Face Shields – used to provide rescue breaths during an overdose reversal
  • Gloves – used to protect your hands when touching drugs especially if they may contain fentanyl
  • Fentanyl Test Strips – used to test all drugs for fentanyl especially when unexpected such as in Cocaine, Methamphetamine, MDMA (Ecstasy / Molly), Marijuana etc.
  • Small sharps container – used to dispose of used syringes (needles)
  • NJDOH Safe Syringe Disposal Pamphlet with local drop off sites on the back
  • Human Services Emergency Resource Cards
  • Medication Assisted Treatment Resources Flyer  
  • Mental Health Treatment Resources Flyer
  • Opioid Addiction Treatment Guide from the American Society of Addiction Medicine
  • Local Naloxone Pharmacies List 

If you are not able to use any of the resources in this kit please share with those that may need these items within your community.

For more information, visit Mercer County Support for Overdose Prevention.

Please fill out the Mercer County Human Services – Harm Reduction Kit Feedback Survey.

Under the Good Samaritan Law, a person calling in good faith in the event of an opioid related overdose is immune from arrest, charges, and prosecution. Learn more at https://nextdistro.org/policies

Resources: Opioid Crises and Harm Reduction

Suggested resources provided by Outreach and Harm Reduction Services, Mercer County Department of Addiction Services.

Books

The following books are all available to borrow from our branches. Please click or tap the blue, underlined title for the item’s listing in our catalog.

Undoing Drugs: How Harm Reduction is Changing the Future of Drugs and Addiction by Maria Szalavitz
Dreamland: The True Tale of Americas Opiate Epidemic by Sam Quinones
Death in Mud Lick: A Coal County Fight against the Drug Companies that Delivered the Opioid Epidemic by Eric Eyre
Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and The Drug Company That Addicted America by Beth Macy

Documentaries

None of these documentaries are available from our catalog. In order to watch, you will need to follow the information provided below.

  • Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy. 2021. Directed by Stanley Nelson. Available only on Netflix with a subscription.
  • The Crime of the Century. 2021. Directed by Alex Gibney. Available only on HBO Max with a subscription.

Presentations

All of the following presentations are available for free on YouTube. Please click or tap the blue, underlined title to take you straight to the video presentation.

Websites

Treatment and Providers in Mercer County