Free overdose prevention kits

Mille Lacs Health System is an official Naloxone Access Point for kits which treat opioid overdoses and can save lives. One person dies every seven minutes in the U.S. from an opioid overdose. These free kits are available in all of our facilities and our staff has a good supply. All five clinics (Onamia, Isle, Garrison, Hillman & Milaca) as well as our Emergency Department have the self-serve plastic cases in the lobby to grab a kit. The kits are also available at our Mille Lacs Health System Community Pharmacy locations.

The Steve Rummler HOPE Network has provided the kits in an effort to make Naloxone widely available in our state.  The Minnesota Department of Health revealed that drug overdose deaths in Mille Lacs County rose to a 10-year high in 2021, a tragedy impacting all racial groups.  The Mille Lacs County Community and Veterans Services has also committed to addressing the problem by making Naloxone available in the Mille Lacs County building during regular business hours. Getting the kits at the County or at the Mille Lacs Health System locations is a discreet service with no need to provide personal information.

Naloxone is safe and effective: emergency medical professionals have used it for decades, but it has become increasingly important for it to be more widely available in the wake of the opioid crisis. Thanks to Steve’s Law, anyone in Minnesota is allowed to carry the medication or administer it in a time of need.

Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. It does not produce any form of intoxication, is not addictive, and has little to no adverse effects when administered. The kits contain everything you need to administer the drug which is given by syringe into the muscles of the overdosed person.

• Gloves for infection prevention
• Rescue breathing face shield
• Alcohol wipes for the infection site
• Naloxone vials (3)
• Disposable syringes (3)

Symptoms to look for in a potential opioid overdose include: slow or shallow breathing, gurgling or gasping sounds, pinpoint (small) pupils, discolored skin especially around the mouth, eyes, or fingers, and the individual could be cold to the touch.

Feel free to stop by any of the Mille Lacs Health System locations to pick up a kit. Each kit contains a detailed instruction sheet, and it’s important to review these early on how to use the kit before an emergency arises. 

There is also a video available with additional training. Start with scanning the QR code on the outside of the kit to visit the website to watch the video on how to administer the medication as well as signs to look for in a potential overdose. You can also access the website directly at www.steverummlerhopenetwork.org.

The kit contains three doses because an overdosed person may relapse after the initial Naloxone dose. The kit should be stored in a cool dark place, not the glovebox of your car. The Naloxone has a shelf life of about two years.

Fentanyl test strips are also available at all of the Mille Lacs Health System locations.