Table of Contents

03. How To Administer (Steps)

04. Locations

05. Our Community Partners

06. Statistics

07. Additional Resources

08. Treatment & Recovery

09. Frequently Asked Questions

10. Donate

OVERDOSE PREVENTION

You-CAN Save Lives

Opioid overdoses and deaths, particularly from the synthetic opioid "fentanyl", are on the rise in Colorado. In response to this crisis, Mental Health Partners and our partners are committed to making lifesaving overdose reversal spray and other harm reduction tools more available and accessible throughout our community.

The goal of MHP's You-CAN Campaign is to establish a network of free, easily administrated NARCAN® (naloxone) nasal spray kits and fentanyl test strips in communities across Boulder and Broomfield counties.

We believe the more people who have access to these tools, the more lives can be saved.

What is NARCAN/naloxone?

NARCAN® is the brand name of the FDA-approved medication called “naloxone.” Designed to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose, NARCAN is an effective, life-saving treatment that comes in the form of a nasal spray. NARCAN was the first naloxone nasal spray to be approved for over-the-counter (non-prescription) use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (in March 2023).

How To Administer NARCAN/Naloxone

01
Call 911.
02
Administer the nasal spray by gently placing tip of spray into the person’s nostril and push down on the plunger to release spray.
03
Wait 2-3 minutes. Repeat another dose if person does not regain conciousness or loses conciousness again.
04
Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
05
Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.
06
Stay until emergency personnel arrive.

You-CAN Kiosk Locations

Find free NARCAN, fentanyl test strips, and other harm reduction tools at these locations throughout Boulder and Broomfield counties.

MHP locations:

Broomfield Clinic (897 HWY 287, Broomfield, CO 80020)

Lafayette Clinic (1455 Dixon Avenue, Lafayette, CO 80026)

Ryan Wellness Center (1000 Alpine Avenue, Boulder, CO 80304)

Norton Center for Behavioral Medicine (975 North Street, Boulder, CO 80304) *Ask Genoa Pharmacy staff

St. Vrain Community Hub (515 Coffman Street, Longmont, CO 80501)

Walk-in Crisis & Addiction Services Center (3180 Airport Road, Boulder, CO 80301)

Wellness Education Center (834 South Sherman Street, Longmont, CO 80501)

Community partner locations:

Boulder Valley Health Center (2855 Valmont Rd, Boulder, CO 80301)

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless (4869 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304)

Boulder YMCA (2850 Mapleton Ave, Boulder, CO 80301)

Bluebird Housing (2440 30th Street, Boulder, CO, 80301)

Lafayette YMCA (2800 Dagny Way, Lafayette, CO 80026)

Sister Carmen Community Center Food Bank (655 Aspen Ridge Dr, Lafayette, CO 80026)

Additional ways to get NARCAN/naloxone:

Broomfield Library & Municipal Courts

Local pharmacies. Increasingly, pharmacies around the state now carry naloxone, so ask your local pharmacist if they provide nasal spray kits.

Community Partners

MHP’s You-CAN campaign is made possible thanks to generous donations from individuals, as well as support from key community partners.

Northern Colorado Health Alliance

City and County of Broomfield, Colorado

SummitStone Health Partners

Boulder County

The YMCA

Partner With Us

Opioid Overdose Statistics: A Local and National Epidemic

According to Anne Milgram, Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, “Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered. Fentanyl is everywhere. From large metropolitan areas to rural America, no community is safe from this poison.”

The need for greater access to lifesaving overdose prevention and harm reduction tools in our community is greater than ever, as these statistics clearly demonstrate:

In 2020 and 2021, 100 people were reported to have died from an opioid-involved overdose in Boulder and Broomfield counties. (Source)
Between 2016 and 2021, over 300 people were hospitalized due to an opioid overdose in Boulder and Broomfield counties. (Source)
In a 36-hour period (April 10-12, 2023), five people experienced fentanyl overdoses in the City of Boulder alone. (Source)
Deaths by drug poisoning in 2022 increased in Boulder County among all age groups, including 10-18-year-olds. (Source)
Colorado saw an almost 70% increase in fatal fentanyl overdoses from 2020 to 2021, resulting in the loss of more than 1,200 lives. (Source)
Nationally, millions of Americans suffer from opioid use disorder and more than 71,000 Americans died in 2022 alone from fentanyl-linked overdoses and drug poisonings. (Source)

In nearly 40% of overdose deaths, someone else was present. (Source)
80% of overdose deaths occurred inside a home. (Source)
Fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, homicide, suicide, and accidents. (Source)
Socioeconomic groups at higher risk for fatal drug use include middle-aged men and women, people in lower income strata, insecure housing, those who did not graduate from high school, and recently released prisoners. (Source)
The highest opioid overdose death rates are reported in Mountain, Rust Belt, and New England states as well as the South. (Source)

Additional Resources

The Real Deal on Fentanyl

StopTheClockColorado.org
(Harm Reduction Action Center)

Colorado Drug Overdose Dashboard
(Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment)

NaloxoneForAll.org
(NEXT Harm Reduction)

EndOverdoseCO.com
(Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention)

Opioid Data for Boulder County

Facts About Fentanyl
(DEA)

24/7 Walk In Crisis Center & Addiction Services

Substance Use Disorder Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Withdrawal Management Treatment & Opioid Addiction Recovery

While the scope and danger of the opioid threat is alarming, there are a number of treatments and programs available in Boulder and Broomfield counties. With help, people struggling with opioid addiction can find long-term recovery and healing.

Mental Health Partners offers several evidence-based substance use services and treatment programs. We can help provide the compassionate support you or a loved one need to overcome addiction and pursue wellness. Begin your recovery journey today.

pill

Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Common questions and answers

What is fentanyl?

Fentanyl was introduced in the 1960s as an intravenous anesthetic to induce general anesthesia, and it is still legally manufactured and distributed in the U.S. today as a pharmaceutical product. Through theft of these pharmaceutical products or illegal manufacturing, fentanyl has entered the illicit drug market – either on its own or commonly mixed with other drugs such as heroin or cocaine.

Fentanyl is a Schedule II narcotic under the United States Controlled Substances Act of 1970. It can be injected, snorted/sniffed, smoked, taken orally by pill or tablet, and spiked onto blotter paper. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, common street names for fentanyl include Apache, China Girl, China Town, Dance Fever, Friend, Goodfellas, Great Bear, He-Man, Jackpot, King Ivory, Murder 8, and Tango & Cash.

How does naloxone work?

Are there side effects to administiring naloxone/NARCAN?

What if I administer naloxone/NARCAN to someone who isn’t overdosing?

Can I get arrested for reporting an overdose?

Most states – including Colorado (C.R.S. §18-1-712) – provide legal protection for anyone who suffers or reports an emergency drug or alcohol overdose. This legal immunity (protection) from criminal prosecution also applies to the person who suffers an emergency drug or alcohol overdose event, as well as to other individuals at the scene of an overdose who may be under the influence or in possession of opioids.

Can I get sued for administering naloxone/NARCAN?

How many doses of naloxone/NARCAN are needed?

Naloxone nasal spray is fast acting and temporary, whereas opioids can be long lasting. As a result, some individuals may require more than one dose of NARCAN/naloxone once the medication wears off. If the person appears to relapse back into a state of unconsciousness or difficult breathing, do not hesitate to administer another dose.

This is why it is critically important to call 911 when you encounter someone overdosing. The 911 operator can route medical professionals to your location and provide you with instructions on when to administer another dose.

What are the signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose?

Someone may be experiencing an overdose if they are unresponsive and exhibiting any of the following behaviors:

Extremely pale and/or clammy face
Limp body
Purple or blue hue on their fingernails or lips
Vomiting
Choking or gurgling sounds
Unable to wake up or respond to voice/touch
Slow or shallow breathing
Small, constricted pupils

If you encounter someone who you think is overdosing, immediately call 911 and administer NARCAN/naloxone. Stay with the person until emergency help arrives.

How should NARCAN be stored?

NARCAN generally has a shelf life of 36 months (1.5 years) from the date of manufacturing. Experts recommend that kits be stored between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit and kept away from direct sunlight for optimal efficacy. However, recent studies suggest NARCAN can remain effective even when temporarily exposed to more severe temperatures outside of the manufacturer’s recommended range.

If possible, avoid storing NARCAN in your vehicle – as temperatures in your car regularly exceed 77 degrees in the summer and fall below 68 degrees in the winter.