State provides funds for life-saving drug to fight overdoses

WAPAKONETA - Local law enforcement officials and first responders will have state funds available to purchase Naloxone, the lifesaving drug administered to combat a heroin/opiate drug overdose.

Auglaize County Health Commissioner Oliver Fisher said during Monday's health board meeting that the Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services will allocate money each fiscal year for every county to purchase the drug. Auglaize County will be allowed up to $1,800 to purchase needed kits. Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey has said the cost of the drug is about $19 per dose.

Naloxone, also called Narcan, is sprayed into the nose and absorbed by nasal membranes even if the patient is not breathing. It also can be administered through an IV. It blocks the effects of heroin and opioids on the brain and restores breathing.

Emergency responders "will be able to administer that when they first get on the scene and hopefully be able to revive anyone if they are experiencing overdose," Fisher said.  

Area law enforcement and emergency services previously purchased the drug through their own budgets, Grey has said. However, under recently passed House Bill 64, the health department, which carries a distribution license, will act as the purchasing and distribution agent using state funds.

Fisher said so far he's received very little information about the program and will need to contact state officials to learn more.

Also at Monday's meeting, county director of nursing Brenda Eiting said the county will receive a one-time payment of $26,447 from the Ohio Department of Health to help purchase vaccines.

"With the local health departments transitioning to (serving) private insurance clients, ODH recognized that ... there's become a financial strain purchasing the vaccines," she said.

The county will continue to order vaccines as usual until Dec. 31 and send the invoices to the state for reimbursement. Eiting said the department spent at least that much in three of the last nine months.

"So I don't foresee any problems spending that by Dec. 31," she said.

Fisher reported a policy change to no longer include Social Security numbers on death certificates. The change will affect all certificates issued in the last five years along with all future certificates. Anyone wanting the Social Security number included when purchasing a copy of the certificate must provide proof of kinship.

Fisher also noted that all death certificates are public information and may be viewed by anyone. Those viewing them also may write down information provided on the certificate or take a picture of it if they don't want to purchase a copy.

The health department will participate in a health fair at the Auglaize County commissioners' office from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday. The department will offer information on smoking cessation and the public is invited.

The next health board meeting is 8:30 a.m. Nov. 10.