OCONTO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Oconto County is finding new ways to combat drug overdoses in Northeast Wisconsin.
Last Tuesday, the county’s public health office began making free “harm reduction kits” available.
Oconto County Health Officer Debra Konitzer tells FOX she believes this kit will save lives.
“It includes two doses of Narcan as a nasal spray, we have some gloves available for them, we have 5 fentanyl test strips.”
There is no training required to use the kit, but there are instructions inside.
Konitzer says she saw a need in the community.
“For Oconto County having nine deaths in 2021 from overdose is significant, and it was an increase, almost double from the previous year.”
When asked, “how do you respond when people say having Narcan in these kits encourage drug users to continue to use,” Konitzer responded: “People that are addicted to drugs, it is an addiction and it is a disease, so we want to make sure that people are safe and they are alive while they are using until they are ready to say, ‘I need help, I need to stop.’”
Executive Director of Amanda’s House Paula Jolly, agrees that Narcan use will not enable drug users.
“When you’re addicted to anything, using this case as opiates, what you’re thinking of is your next fix. You’re not thinking I’m going to be okay because somebody is going to have Narcan.’”
Jolly tells FOX she wishes kits like these could have been available sooner.
“My own daughter died, she died in a gas station bathroom. And sometimes I wonder if someone in the bathroom would’ve had it if she would still be here.”
Substance abuse shelter Amanda’s House has Narcan onsite at all times in its Overdose Aid Kit.
“It should be in every place, it should be in schools, churches, gas stations, the grocery store because you don’t know,” says Jolly.
“It’s really about keeping people alive,” says Konitzer.
Oconto County is hoping to offer these kits in more places in the community very soon.
