In a proactive move by the Pima County Health Department, free overdose training events are being offered to the public, aiming to address the increasing concerns of drug overdose fatalities within the community. As indicated in an official press release, the Community Mental Health and Addiction (CMHA) Division is participating in the battle against this deadly occurrence by providing necessary education on the applicability of lifesaving measures like Narcan, a nasal spray used to reverse opioid overdoses.

This initiative is scheduled to amplify leading up to Overdose Awareness Day on Aug. 31, as noted by Melissa Miller, a case manager for CMHA. "We have been experiencing record-breaking numbers of fatal overdoses in Pima County and it’s crucial for people to understand what an overdose looks like and be able to intervene with Narcan to save a life," Miller underscored in a statement obtained by Pima County Newsroom. Emphasizing not just the practical use of Narcan, “This training in particular is also great for reducing some of the stigma and misconceptions surrounding people who use drugs, which I think is just as important as the overdose response piece,” Miller added.

Suggested attendees for these courses range from individuals who interact with drug users professionally to anyone who may know someone at risk for an overdose. Emphasizing the prevalence of the issue, Miller mentioned to Pima County Newsroom, "Honestly, this is such a widespread problem that anyone in our community could encounter someone experiencing an overdose without expecting to, like at a park, the grocery store, bus stop, etc., so in a perfect world everyone would carry Narcan and know how to use it."

The CMHA offers two distinct packages of trainings: Overdose Response training and Harm Reduction Training. Both programs endeavor to prepare individuals to identify overdoses and administer Narcan, with the latter stretching to impart a deeper understanding of harm reduction principles. As mentioned on the Pima County News platform, training on Aug. 14 has a limited capacity of 25 slots, and interested parties are advised to sign up to secure their attendance.

For those unable to attend the public training, CMHA is open to arrangements for private sessions, encouraging requests from groups of at least five participants. "We’re willing to set up private trainings for groups of at least five people, so when I get requests from individual people, I always encourage them to try and wrangle up a small group of friends or colleagues who might also be interested in attending," Miller explained in the report. Additionally, resources and further information on harm reduction can be accessed through the Pima Helpline’s End Stigma webpage.