Drug overdose deaths are a leading contributor to premature death and are largely preventable. Currently, the United States is experiencing an epidemic of drug overdose deaths. Since 2000, the rate of drug overdose deaths has increased by 137 percent nationwide. Opioids contribute largely to drug overdose deaths; since 2000, there has been a 200 percent increase in deaths involving opioids (opioid pain relievers and heroin).

The opioid epidemic has been a growing issue across the state and nation. Boyle County has seen it's fair share of tragedy as a result of the opioid crisis. According to the County Health Rankings, in 2017 there were 17 overdose deaths in Boyle County. In that same year there were 19 people who suffered an overdose but survived.

As an Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator, it doesn't always seem clear how we as professionals can even begin to find our role in stopping such a wide reaching issue that effects every family in our state. Fortunately we already hold the responsibility of teaching families how to make healthy lifestyle choices through research based life skills programming. Here's how we tried something new with some great partners in Boyle County.

Each Spring the Fort Harrod Area FCS Agents collaborate on a multi county seminar. This year the agents went with the suggested topic of first aid. They offered a morning program that consisted of guest speakers from the Medical Reserve Corps as well as first responders who shared how to handle different types of emergency situations.

In the afternoon after the "Be Safe, Be Well" first aid seminar, there was an additional Overdose Response Training offered. This training was a partnership with the Boyle County Alcohol and Substance Abuse Policy (ASAP) and the Voices of Hope. This 2 hour session was offered for free to any community member who wanted to learn how to use Narcan in the event of an apparent opioid overdose. Voices of Hope volunteers led the informative training for 46 participants. The audience was varied from first responders and library employees to family members, church pastors, and community volunteers. Each participant was trained on how to respond to someone suffering an opioid overdose and how to safely administer a dose of Narcan. All participants received a free dose of Narcan.

Boyle County ASAP coordinator Kathy Miles said that having the overdose response training at the Extension Office was a great idea. It provided a great venue for such a large crowd, the largest training they've hosted. Voices of Hope, a Lexington based organization, did an amazing job getting all 46 participants trained on how to safely administer Narcan. They were knowledgeable and well prepared even though the attendance was twice the amount of the number of people preregistered for this training. 

There's no doubt that FCS Extension can be a resource for families no matter their situation. Even in the midst of the opioid epiedemic we can still make an impact. When we partner with other organizations with specialties different from our own, we can make an even greater impact.