The Haines Volunteer Fire Department and the local SEARHC clinic are distributing Narcan, an opioid overdose treatment, free of charge to anyone who’s interested.

The state-funded initiative, Project HOPE, is distributing kits across Alaska to combat opioid overdoses. The overdose kits are comprised of two, 4 milligram doses of Narcan, latex gloves, a CPR shield and instructions on how to use the nasal applicator.

Haines volunteer firefighter and EMT Jenn Walsh said she never used Narcan to treat an overdose victim in Haines until 2016. Since then, Haines EMS responders have used Narcan five times a year. They’ve used it twice so far this year.

“It’s pretty sad how much it’s picking up,” Walsh said. “If you or anybody you know uses opioids, come get a kit. It will not hurt anything to have it sitting in your house. Hopefully it will not need to be used but if it does, you have it.”

Those interested in getting a kit will receive a brief training from fire department staff. Besides general demographic information such as age and gender, no contact information needs to be provided.

The Haines clinic recently began carrying Suboxone in its pharmacy. Suboxone helps treat opioid addiction and withdrawal symptoms. The borough’s public safety commission held a community meeting last spring to discuss drug abuse in Haines. At that session, a man who described himself as an opioid addict encouraged the clinic to stock Suboxone.

SEARHC administrator Pat Hefley said a local provider has only prescribed the drug to a few people. He said Narcan use is relatively low in Haines.

“Compared to other communities we are in fairly good shape,” Hefley said. “We don’t have as much of a demand in EMS and in the clinic as many other communities have. Any use of it is bad, but there are communities where it’s used per capita much more frequently than that.”

During its Tuesday meeting, borough manager Debra Schnabel requested the assembly not place Narcan in the roughly 18 automated external defibrillators spread across town. Schnabel estimated a $3,000 cost to stock all the stations, and cited concerns about theft and monitoring.

The assembly ultimately voted to direct Schnabel to research the placement of Narcan in the AED locations and directed the public safety commission to begin work an “opioid task force” to address community concerns.