A federally funded grant is helping Maine’s four Indian tribes implement a new drug program to confront opioid abuse.
Five tribal clinics are now offering take-home naloxone programs to provide abusers with access to the drug, which reverses the effects of an overdose caused by prescription opioids and heroin.
Clare Desrosiers, executive director of Diversion Alert and a partner in the tribal drug program, says all four Maine tribes see a critical need for access to naloxone, also known as Narcan.
“The concern that they had and the reason that they jumped on board is because they want to save the lives of their members and as with everywhere else, we’ve seen an increase in overdoses statewide and of course, that increase includes individuals within the tribe,” she says.
Derosiers says naloxone can provide a path forward for those determined to overcome their addiction.
“Naloxone is a starting point for recovery for people that are ready and the tribal health clinics and Diversion Alert and all our partners we want to be able to do whatever we can to help people find recovery,” she says.
Desrosiers says new programs will allow family members who are concerned about loved ones at high risk for overdose to take naloxone home. Additionally, tribes with police departments have trained their officers to carry and administer the life-saving drug.