On Sept. 8, all 55 West Virginia counties are joining together to host the largest day of free naloxone (Narcan) distribution in the state.
And Mon Health System hospitals will be in the mix.
This is the third year for Save a Life Day, but the first time all 55 counties will participate on the same day.
A statewide map of over 150 events can be found at savealifewv.org.
Save a Life Day is made possible by support from the West Virginia Office of Drug Control Policy, which supplies the Narcan for the statewide event. Key logistics support also comes from the University of Charleston Pharmacy School and the West Virginia Office of Maternal Child & Family Health.
This year’s major sponsors include Aetna, Ayuda Medical, CareSource, CAMC Foundation, Community Connections, Unicare and the West Virginia Drug Intervention Institute.
West Virginia lost an average of two family members to fatal overdoses each day in 2021, down from over three lives lost a day on average in 2020. This improvement is due in part to the expansion of free naloxone programs, including Save a Life Day events, which started in 2020.
The theme for the 2022 Save a Life Day is “Meeting People Where They Are.” Save A Life Day events are getting a larger portion of naloxone to people at risk of overdose by focusing distribution on high-risk areas, incorporating outreach strategies and partnering with people who use drugs.
Save a Life Day details for Mon Health System hospitals:
- Mon Health Medical Center — Dering-Henson Funeral Home, 156 Foundry St., Morgantown, from 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital — Preston County Inn, 122 W. Main St., Kingwood, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
- Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital — Dr. Gorby’s Office, 230 Hospital Plaza, Weston, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Also in Monongalia County, volunteers will man other sites via the Monongalia County Health department Quick Response Team.
They will be at:
- McDonald’s restaurants, in Westover, Star City and Sabraton from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Westover VFW from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- WVU Rec Center from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- WVU Mountainlair from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Milan Puskar HealthRight, downtown Morgantown, from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Morgantown Art Party, downtown Morgantown, from 5-7 p.m.
