Hamilton County leaders respond to surgeon general's call for more narcan

WEBVTT FROM NARCAN TO RECOVERY. NARCAN IS ESSENTIAL. GIVING THAT PERSON ANOTHER CHANCE EVEN IF IT’S FIVE CHANCES , 10 CHANCES, 15 CHANCES. THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO LIVE. COURTIS: NO ONE UNDERSTANDS THAT BETTER THAN A MOTHER OF A RECOVERING ADDICT. SHE BELIEVES NEW EFFORTS IN HAMILTON COUNTY TO PROVIDE BETTER TREATMENT AND ACCESS FOR PEOPLE FIGHTING ADDICTION WILL NOT ONLY SAVE HER SON’S LIFE, BUT THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS. SHE ASKED US TO PROTECT HER IDENTITY FOR HER OWN SAFETY AND THAT OF HER SON. HAMILTON COUNTY HAS PASSED OUT 6,000 DOSES OF NARCAN SINCE THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. IT IS ALL PART OF A PROGRAM ANCHORED BY A DONATION FROM THE DRUG MANUFACTURER ADAP-PHARMA. >> THE MAKER OF NARCAN HAS DONATED TO US 25,000 DOSES OF NARCAN OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS , WHICH IF YOU LOOK AT THE RETAIL VALUE, THAT APPROACHES $2 MILLION. SO IT IS A HUGE INVESTMENT. IT IS HAPPENING IN THE JAIL. IT IS HAPPENING IN THE TREATMENT CENTERS. IT IS HAPPENING IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY. IF WE CAN EXPAND THAT, WE CAN SAVE LIVES. COURTIS: BUT NARCAN IS ONLY ONE PIECE TO RECOVERY. MERCY HEALTH WILL LAUNCH ANOTHER INITATIVE SOON. IT COULD BE PART OF THE SOLUTION TO PROVIDING ACCESS TO CARE FOR PEOPLE FIGHTING ADDICTION. >> IT IS A SIGNIFICANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM MANY FRONTS. ONE NOW THAT PERSON CAN GO INTO THAT EMERGENCY ROOM AND BE TREATED AND AS PATIENT AND THEN THERE’S A CONTINUUM OF CARE THAT CONTINUES THROUGH TREATMENT. COURTIS: ARE YOU ENCOURAGED BY WHAT YOU HEARD TODAY? >> TOTALLY ENCOURAGED. THE SEAMLESS TRANSFER FROM HOSPITALS TO TREATMENT WAS A NECESSITY AND WAS A BIG BARRIER TO PEOPLE’S RECOVERY. COURTIS: WHEN YOU HEAR HER RESPONSE, ABSOLUTELY. SHE WAS SAYING THAT PEOPLE WOULD LEAVE THE HOSPITAL SICK AND GO OUT TO GET ANOTHER FIX. ALL OF THAT WILL CHANGE ONCE THE MERCY HEALTH PROJECT GOES INTO EFFECT. WE ARE HOPING WITHIN THE NEXT 60 TO 90 DAYS, AND ALSO THE TOLBERT HOUSE ALSO HAVING ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT CENTER. REPORTING LIVE, COURTIS FULLER, WLWT N