HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — With opioid overdoses on the rise in the United States, Guam health officials are being proactive in offering free training to the community on how to respond to overdoses and save lives, the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center said in a press release.
“In 2019, 15.5% of high school students (and) 6.7% of middle school students reported taking (a) prescription drug, such as OxyContin and/or codeine, without a doctor’s prescription. While local data surrounding opioid misuse is still being gathered, much is known about the addictive properties of opioids, as well as the devastation brought … on by the opioid epidemic witnessed in the United States,” GBHWC said in the release.
The intent of the Guam Opioid Overdose Prevention Act of 2023 is to save the lives of those who experience an opioid overdose by expanding access to free naloxone through a vending machine and training the community in how to administer the life-saving opioid antagonist, the agency said.
“GBHWC will offer a comprehensive, monthly training on naloxone administration. The training includes how to recognize the signs of and the steps to properly respond to an opioid overdose,” the agency said in the release.
“By offering free trainings and naloxone, we increase access to this lifesaving medicine to our community members, so they have the necessary tools and knowledge to save lives,” GBHWC Director Theresa Arriola said.
The act puts vending machines to use differently. Traditionally, vending machines are filled with snacks and drinks available for purchase, but under the act, the machines will provide a lifesaving medication, the agency said in the release.
“Naloxone kits will be available for public access via a vending machine free of charge, providing easy access to the medication 24/7,” the agency said.
Currently, the vending machine is located outside the main entrance of GBHWC in Tamuning.
GBHWC encourages the community to access the training, which will be held on Friday.
The Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center is seen in Tamuning on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024.
