BUTTE COUNTY, CA (MPG) – Recent reports indicate there may be an increase in opioid drug overdoses occurring in Butte County. Butte County Public Health (BCPH) is working closely with local hospitals, EMS and law enforcement to learn more and will update the public as soon as possible. If you or someone you know misuses drugs, BCPH urges residents learn the signs of an overdose and always have Naloxone available.                                 

Naloxone (also known as Narcan) is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that may reduce serious injury and death from opioid misuse and abuse. It may be used when a person is showing signs of an overdose, blocking the opioid receptor sites and reversing the toxic effects of the overdose. Speak to your doctor about getting naloxone. It is also possible to acquire naloxone from a pharmacy without a prescription.

What you can do to prevent opioid overdose - Always have naloxone available and ensure other people who are likely to be nearby know where it is and how to use it. Know the symptoms of overdose and how to provide first aid if someone experiences an overdose, give them naloxone, call 911 immediately, and provide rescue breathing until they can breathe on their own. Signs and symptoms of an overdose may include someone who is not breathing, has blue lips/skin, and who is unresponsive.

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) is available in Butte County for people who have been exposed to opioids and are currently misusing or abusing them. MAT reduces the adverse physiological symptoms, such as cravings and withdrawals, by combining behavioral therapy and medications that help to block opioid receptors in the brain. MAT includes assessment, individual and group counseling, physician review and monitoring, and case management.

24/7 Behavioral Health Access Line: 800-334-6622 or 530-891-2810. Learn more about opioids in Butte County and MAT services, please visit: www.buttecounty.net/opioids.