Chautauqua County government and members of the Chautauqua Substance Abuse Response Partnership want to encourage those in the community who are actively using drugs and those who have a loved one using drugs to carry Naloxone.

Naloxone, also called Narcan, is an emergency medicine that can stop an opioid overdose. If you suspect an overdose, call 911.

Free training and Naloxone kits are available locally through:

¯ Evergreen Health, 320 Prather Ave., Jamestown; 847-2441;

¯ Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services; 753-6724.

Anyone using opioids, whether for recreational purposes or otherwise, can be at risk for overdose. Other risk factors include:

¯ using or taking drugs alone;

¯ mixing opioids with other drugs like alcohol, benzodiazepines (Xanax and Ativan) and prescription stimulants (cocaine and Adderall);

¯ having lower tolerance due to recent detox/drug treatment, incarceration, or illness;

¯ not knowing what drugs one is consuming such as using heroin cut with fentanyl.

An overdose can happen when the amount of drugs ingested causes suppressed breathing in a way that oxygen cannot reach vital organs, and the body begins to shut down. It is important to note that an overdose can occur anywhere from 20 minutes to two full hours after drug use.