Marissa Woodmansee was facing a dilemma.
As director of Juvenile Services, she needed Narcan for the agency’s 10-member staff but the current state grant doesn’t allow for the purchase of the life-saving drug.
Then, out of the blue, Woodmansee received a donation from a Great Bend woman who had learned about the situation.
“Now everyone on staff is equipped with Narcan,” Woodmansee said. “I couldn’t believe it when the donation came in. All of us are grateful, to say the least.”
“Narcan” is the commonly used name for Naloxone. It is used to block the effects of opiates on the brain while it restores breathing; there is no harm done if the recipient doesn’t actually need it.
Woodmansee was able to buy the nasal-spray locally over the counter.
“This is especially important today because the use of fentanyl is growing fast,” Woodmansee said. “When we are called to scenes where fentanyl is involved, we can be exposed by simply breathing it from a very short distance away.
“Also, our skin could come in contact with the powerful drug,” she continued. “This could be lethal. We have masks and gloves but Narcan provides a much higher level of safety.”
Staff members now have Narcan in their go-bags for when they are called for assistance by law enforcement or other entities.
“We are on call 24/7; we have to be ready at a moment’s notice to respond to a scene,” Woodmansee commented. “We collaborate with law enforcement on a regular basis when we intake juveniles for our services. It is a comfort to know we have Narcan available because we are at risk like anyone else.”
She also noted the staff is trained in administering Narcan; it is part of their CPR and First Aid training.
Woodmansee had contacted the Kansas Department of Corrections – Juvenile Services to ask if she could use current grant funds for Narcan. The request is being considered.
She could apply for another grant but that is time-consuming.
“I understand completely that we must follow all the rules and regulations associated with grant funding,” Woodmansee said. “But I also understand the importance of keeping the public and our staff safe.
“The donation of $225 was the answer,” she added, noting she already had a couple of doses that were donated to Juvenile Services earlier. “It is sad that we need this kind of protection but we see the use of opiates increasing all the time. We have to protect ourselves and the ones around us.”
20th Judicial District Juvenile Services empowers youth in Barton, Rice, Ellsworth, Stafford and Russell counties to achieve positive outcomes by offering Juvenile Intake & Assessment, Immediate Intervention, Intensive Supervised Probation, Case Management, Journey to Change, Life Skills, All Stars and Youth Crew. Parents and guardians also are offered The Parent Project. Visit 1800 12th in Great Bend or call 620-793-1930.
