Organizations behind the effort to battle opioid addiction in Trumbull County say they're trying to quash what they say is a misconception about saving lives using an overdose antidote.

April Caraway, Executive director of the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board says that there is a misperception that the same individuals are being revived over and over by administering Narcan.

According to Caraway, data collected by the Trumbull County Combined Health District in 2016 shows that more than 350 Narcan kits were dispensed by the health department to private individuals, treatment facilities, and first responders.

“Out of those, we are aware of only 10 kits being used on individuals that had previously received Narcan to reverse their overdoses,” said Kathy Parilla, RN.

What we are seeing is a far reaching drug epidemic that encompasses the entire county and many different individuals, according to a media release from the Trumbull County Mental Health and Recovery Board.

According to statistics, there have been 597 overdoses in Trumbull County from January 1 to June 30. Narcan has been administered so that people have an opportunity to seek treatment, according to Caraway.

“Our addiction treatment agencies stay full. This means that people are getting help and getting into recovery,” said Caraway.

For more information or to obtain a Project DAWN Narcan kit, please contact the Trumbull County Combined Health District at 330-675-2590 option #3 to schedule an appointment.