Narcan, harm-reduction trainings set for Portales

Drugs are in our community and many people don’t know what to look for or how to help until it impacts someone they care about.

According to Kris Paulus, licensed clinical social worker in charge of Roosevelt County’s Medication Treatment Assistance program, that is the drive behind the county hosting two sessions of Narcan and harm reduction training Sunday and Monday.

The Sunday session is open to the community including residents from outside Roosevelt County. It will be held at 5 p.m. at the Jake Lopez Community Center at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds, 705 E. Lime St., Portales.

The Monday session is specifically for law enforcement personnel.

Paulus describes Narcan as a brand name for Naloxone.

“(It’s) an opioid antagonist used for emergency treatment of suspected or known opioid overdose. Narcan is a 4 mg nasal spray that comes in a box with two nasal spray devices,” Paulus wrote in an email.

The workshop is needed because “it's not unusual for kids to be exposed to drugs at elementary or junior high school age.”

“If parents, teachers, caregivers, and others in their lives aren't aware of this then they can't be on the lookout for signs of drug use or be prepared in an overdose situation,” Paulus wrote.

Paulus said fentanyl poses the most danger to the community today.

“Fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opiate, that is cheap to mass produce, and therefore often used by drug dealers to increase the potency and profit margin of drugs such as methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine,” Paulus wrote.

Another danger of fentanyl, according to Paulis, is it’s often made to look like prescription opioids, with the majority sold as "blues" or M30 oxycodone, which would contain 30 mg of oxycodone in a legitimately prescribed pill.

“Blues tend to be commonly used among all age groups. Methamphetamine continues to be one the most prevalent drugs in our community, although it is rare that it is not laced or cut with other substances, with fentanyl being the most common,” Paulus said.

Paulus warned that non-prescription marijuana can also be laced with fentanyl and this, along with alcohol, still tends to be the first drug young people experiment with.

Paulus wrote the trainings will focus on signs and symptoms of opioid overdose, harm reduction strategies, medical marijuana, and the administration of Narcan.

“The instructor, Ted Asbury, is adjunct faculty for Law Enforcement Training International and can answer questions related to different drugs to help reduce risks associated to use and how to promote prevention,” Paulus wrote.

Paulus stressed the importance of those interested in attending Sunday need to register for the training “to ensure all attendees can be provided Narcan to take with them upon completion.”

Those who wish to register should visit https://www.rooseveltcounty.com/narcan-training/.