Buncombe County Health and Human Services is offering free monthly overdose reversal training to community members. The sessions aim to teach participants how to recognize the signs of an overdose and respond effectively. Training is available in both English and Spanish, with assistance from UNETE.
The trainings take place on the third Thursday of each month, with upcoming dates scheduled for November 20 and December 18. During these drop-in sessions, attendees meet with a staff member for 10 to 15 minutes to discuss recognizing overdose symptoms, administering Naloxone, and providing follow-up care. Participants can also ask questions and receive free supplies such as Naloxone, CPR masks, test strips, and informational materials.
Harm Reduction Coordinator Mitchell Albers outlined the main topics covered in the training: “Key topics covered in the overdose reversal training include building opioid awareness, who is at risk and why, Harm Reduction principles, signs of an opioid overdose, steps to reversing an overdose with naloxone, as well as current Buncombe County initiatives that are actively combating the opioid crisis in our community. The hope is that individuals walk away from our training feeling better equipped to reverse an overdose in the community, have a better understanding of what Harm Reduction entails, and hear what is actively being done to reduce overdose risks and rates in our community.”
Albers explained why Health and Human Services decided to offer this ongoing program: “Part of what motivated Health and Human Services to host standing naloxone training was the sheer demand in the community. It felt pertinent to establish a set time when anyone from the community could come in and get the same training that we go out and provide day-to-day to community partners and agencies. And they receive free naloxone for attending. It is important to ensure that our community feels empowered to step in and save a life, as the number of fatal overdoses surpassed 100,000 for the first time in 2021. Simply put, the more widely this medication is distributed, the fewer fatal overdoses will occur.”
Regarding who should participate or request Naloxone kits through these trainings or outreach efforts, Albers said: “Anyone and everyone should receive this training from concerned parents to People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) and everyone in between. We actively partner with community organizations to bring training directly to them, but those who have not been able to attend at their organization are welcome to attend a training held at Health and Human Services.”
Albers added information about other services provided by Buncombe County’s Harm Reduction Program: “Our Harm Reduction Program is located on the lower level of 40 Coxe Avenue in Asheville with daily operational hours of noon-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. Our services and supplies are free to all, confidential, and peer-led. If any organization is interested in reaching out to schedule individualized training for their staff or have other questions, they can email [email protected].”
In related education news within Buncombe County schools during the 2022-23 academic year:
– Among senior students taking science on the ACT exam across local districts (2,010 students), only about 28.5% were considered ready for college-level work according to state data (source).
– For juniors taking science (1,931 students), approximately 30.1% met college readiness standards (source).
– In reading assessments among seniors (2,010 students), around 41.1% achieved college readiness (source), while juniors (1,931 students) saw a rate of about 43.2% (source).
– Math results showed that among seniors (2,010 students), just over one-quarter—25.6%—were deemed ready for college math courses (source). For juniors (1,931 students), about one-third—32.7%—met readiness benchmarks (source).
