West Virginia University students are gearing up for spring break — March 9-17 — and the Monongalia County Quick Response Team helped some of them get ready Tuesday by offering free naloxone at the Mountainlair.
Naloxone reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Team members were handing it out and teaching students how to use it should the need arise. They also gave out fentanyl strips.
Brittany Irick, coordinator of the Monongalia County Quick Response Team (QRT), said this week was selected for the event because they want students to have the items and the knowledge for its use before they head to the beach or the mountains or wherever they may go to celebrate being out of class for a week.
The Monongalia County QRT has been holding naloxone giveaway events, branded as Free Naloxone Day or Save a Life Day, since 2021. Those have been at multiple locations throughout the Morgantown area in an effort to get naloxone to the entire community.
A mini Free Naloxone Day will be held in the spring, tentatively scheduled for April 18, at six locations.
The Monongalia County QRT will also participate in the statewide Free Naloxone Day on Sept. 26.
