PITTSBURGH (PTTP) – The Allegheny County Health Department is hosting op-up events providing opioid harm reduction services in their “Small Changes, Big Differences” Campaign.
The battle against the opioid crisis continues to rage in the United States. In 2016, there were an estimated 42,249 deaths nationally due to opioid overdoses. In 2021, that number jumped to an estimated 80,411 deaths nationally with 5,168 of the deaths being Pennsylvanians.
In an effort to combat the number of overdoses in the United States, just last week, the FDA approved the over-the-counter sale of naloxone, better known as Narcan. The medication rapidly reverses the effects of opioids with a success rate of 75 to 100 percent in reversing overdoses. This is a massive step forward in the fight against opioid-induced deaths in the United States, providing the life-saving drug at a reasonable price.
“Any additional access point to Narcan or Naloxone is always beneficial,” Stated Stacie Brown, a representative from The Allegheny County Health Department. “This will be a more cost effective way for individuals to obtain Naloxone.”
To increase accessibility to Narcan and harm reduction services even further, the Allegheny County Health Department is hosting its “Small Changes, Big Differences” campaign. These events include pop-up sites to distribute free Narcan with other harm reduction services as well.
“We try to reach the person, not just with Narcan.” Stated Brown, “That’s only one piece of that person. We want to bring substance abuse treatment, we want to bring mental health treatment and information.”
While there has been occasional pushback on these pop-up events, much of it is rooted in misinformation, with the misconception of drug resources bringing more drugs to areas with these pop-up events.
“Through conversation you can put their minds at ease.” Stated Brown. “If it seems that they are really hesitant … I’ll encourage them to stop by and schedule a pop-up.”
While the campaign has a list of upcoming dates, with more planned this year than in the previous three years of the program, there are opportunities for any community to reach out and schedule a pop-up, helping the Allegheny County Health Department reach as many people as possible.
“So last year we had 135 of them, and they go from March until I can no longer stand the weather, so normally November maybe Decemeber.” Stated Brown. “We provided approximately 9,000 kits of Narcan at those 135 pop-ups.”
For more information about these pop-up events, head over to https://www.harmreductionallegheny.org/
Below is the full list of pop-up events happening from April through the end of July:
4/12/23 10a-2p Onala – 1625 W. Carson Street – Southside
4/14/23 12p-4p East Liberty Presbyterian Church – Penn Ave. – East Liberty
4/18/23 12p-4p Hays Manor – McKees Rocks
4/25/23 12p-4p Clocktower – Brownsville Rd. – Mt. Oliver
5/5/23 12p-4p Amplify Church – Fifth Ave. – Uptown
5/9/23 12p-4p Homewood House – Frankstown Ave. – Homewood
5/17/23 12p-4p Center of Bellevue – Lincoln Ave. – Bellevue
5/23/23 12p-4p Millvue Acres – Clairton
5/23/23 3p-7p Farmers Market – Bay 41 – Lawrenceville
5/31/23 12p-4p 1860 Centre Ave. – Hill District
6/3/23 All Day Pittsburgh Pride
6/6/23 12p-4p Esser Plaza – 12th & Carson St. – Southside
6/13/23 12p-4p Myers Ridge Housing – McKees Rocks
6/15/23 12p-4p 4944 Second Avenue – Hazelwood
6/21/23 12p-4p Allegheny County Housing – Tarentum
6/27/23 12p-4p Community Center – 2291 Wilner Dr. – East Hills
6/28/23 9a-3p 1205 Main St. – District Court – Sharpsburg
7/7/23 12p-4p Holanders – Braddock Ave. – Braddock
7/11/23 12p-4p The Elks – 400 Cedar Ave. – Northside
7/20/23 12p-4p Allegheny County Housing – McKeesport
7/25/23 12p-4p Allegheny County Housing – Natrona Heights
7/31/23 12p-4p Northview Heights Housing – Northside Christian Health Center