Sentinel photo by SIERRA BOLGER
Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones and Kristin Lindsey, prevention specialist for Juniata Valley Tri-County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission, are pictured next to the Narcan/test strip/informational distribution box.

LEWISTOWN — The Juniata Valley Tri-County Drug and Alcohol Commission celebrates its continued efforts and success in supplying access to substance use treatment and case management services with a special visit from Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Dr. Latika Davis-Jones.

Jones highlighted how the Shapiro Administration’s Overdose Prevention Program is delivering life-saving overdose prevention supplies, including naloxone, for rural communities across Pennsylvania.

Attributed to collaboration and support of local agencies and county government across Mifflin, Juniata and Huntingdon counties, they supplied the community with a box filled with Narcan, test strips and information.

Naloxone is a medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose by quickly restoring breathing to an individual if their breathing has slowed or stopped.

According to Jones, since the start of the Shapiro Administration, there have been more than 16,000 overdose reversals using DDAP-supplied naloxone statewide.

Located in the vestibule of the main entrance at 31 S. Dorcas St. in Lewistown, the supplies are accessible 24/7 and can be used by anyone.

While this is their first box at this location, Micaela Mills, deputy director for the Tri-County Drug and Alcohol explains that this is not the only distribution box in our area. There is one located at Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard (Mifflin County), the Dream Center (Mifflin County), Juniata County Food Pantry, Huntingdon County Children and Youth Services, Huntingdon Borough Police Department, and three across Geisinger Lewistown facility locations in Mifflin County.

According to Mills, there are also NaloxBoxes, wall-mounted emergency cabinets that store Naloxone, in schools across all districts of Mifflin, Juniata and Huntingdon counties.

The boxes located at Geisinger facilities and the Huntingdon Borough Police Department are accessible 24 hours a day. All others are accessible during operational hours of their respective locations.

Kristin Lindsey, prevention specialist for the Juniata Valley Tri-County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Commission, spoke about the significant increase in distribution of Naloxone (Narcan) doses over the last five years.

According to Lindsey, in recent years, the Single County Authority perceives a decrease in stigma associated with substance use treatment and harm reduction materials credited to increased education, awareness and overall availability of resources throughout Mifflin, Juniata and Huntingdon counties.