Community & Crisis Resources

Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Naloxone) is a community-based overdose education and medication distribution program created to combat Ohio’s opioid overdose epidemic.

Naloxone (also known as Narcan) is a medication that can reverse an overdose caused by an opioid drug (heroin or prescription pain medication). Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and quickly restores breathing.

Key Points:

• Naloxone has no potential for abuse.

• If given to a person who is not experiencing an opioid overdose, it is harmless.

• If administered to a person who is dependent on opioids, it will produce non-life threatening withdrawal symptoms.

• It does not reverse overdoses that are caused by non-opioid drugs, such as cocaine, benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin,Valium), methamphetamines or alcohol.

It takes less than 30 minutes to obtain a kit that could save a life.

Attendees learn to:

• Recognize the signs and symptoms of overdose

• Distinguish between different types of overdose

• Perform rescue breathing

• Call emergency medical services

• Administer intranasal Naloxone

The kit includes:

• 2 vials of Naloxone medication

• 2 nasal atomizers

• 2 face shields

• Brochures

With the passage of Ohio House Bill 170, the kits can be dispensed to an individual with addiction issues, as well as a family member, friend, or loved one.

You can obtain a Naloxone kit for FREE through the health department by one of these three options:

1. Call (740) 392-2200 x 2236 to schedule an education session and distribution with Lisa Dudgeon, RN;

2. Email ldudgeon@knoxhealth.com to schedule a session, or;

3. Click the link below to receive an individual kit in the mail. (This will take you to a SurveyMonkey form to complete. The anonymous survey will take no more than 5-7 minutes, with an educational video that is 16 minutes in length - the video is recommended if you have not been trained on how to use Narcan.)