Reducing harm through supplies
Brown Bag Program
The Lewis County Health Department offers Harm Reduction supplies through our brown bag program. The BBP supplies are located in our public restrooms and there are no questions asked. Take what you need. These supplies are offered to help people avoid accidental overdose and reduce the sharing of supplies which spreads infectious diseases like HIV and HEP-C.
What is in the Brown Bag?
1. Fentanyl Test Strips (FTS)
- Purpose: Used to test drugs for the presence of fentanyl, a powerful opioid often found in street drugs. This helps individuals make safer choices and reduce the risk of accidental overdose.
2. Xylazine Test Strips (XTS)
- Purpose: Used to detect the presence of xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer increasingly found in the illicit drug supply. This helps users avoid potentially dangerous substances.
3. Cotton Pellets
- Purpose: Sterile cotton pellets are used in the preparation of injecting drugs to filter out impurities. This reduces the risk of infections and other complications.
4. Alcohol Pads
- Purpose: Used to clean the injection site before use to prevent infections. They are a critical part of maintaining hygiene during drug use.
5. Bandages
- Purpose: Applied after injection to protect the site and promote healing. They help prevent infection and encourage safer practices.
6. Condoms
- Purpose: Provided to promote safe sex practices, reducing the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies.
7. Narcan (Naloxone)
- Purpose: A medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. It can quickly restore normal breathing in someone who has overdosed on opioids, potentially saving their life.
Instructions
Please take the entire bag and use the items as needed. Each component is included to help reduce harm and promote safer practices. If you have any questions or need further assistance, our staff is here to help.
HOW TO RESPOND TO AN OVERDOSE
Learn how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose using the “Lay, Spray, Stay” method:
- Recognize an Overdose: Look for signs such as slow or no breathing, unresponsiveness, blue or grayish skin (especially on lips and nails), or gurgling sounds. If the person cannot be woken up, it may be an overdose.
- Call 911: As soon as you suspect an overdose, call 911. Let them know that someone is unresponsive and may be overdosing. Stay on the line and follow any instructions they give while preparing to administer Narcan.
- Lay: Gently lay the person on their back to help keep their airway open. Make sure they are in a safe position, and check for signs of breathing. If they are not breathing or are struggling, prepare your Narcan.
- Spray: Hold the Narcan nasal spray with your thumb on the bottom of the plunger and two fingers on the nozzle. Tilt the person's head back slightly and insert the tip of the nozzle into one nostril. Press the plunger firmly to release the dose into their nose. Narcan is safe to administer even if you're unsure whether it’s an opioid overdose—it won’t harm someone who isn’t overdosing.
- Stay: Stay with the person and monitor their breathing and responsiveness. Narcan may take 2-3 minutes to work, and its effects last for 30-90 minutes. If they do not wake up within 2-3 minutes, give a second dose if available, and continue to monitor them until emergency medical help arrives.
Important: Don’t be afraid to call 911. The Good Samaritan law protects you when you help someone in an overdose situation, even if drugs are present. Acting quickly can save a life.
Want to learn more about Narcan?
We are happy to teach you how to administer Narcan, recognize an overdose, or help you find local resources. Just give as a call and ask for Alex.
Our Harm Reduction Partners
