Tuscaloosa Nonprofit To Host Training On Drug That Counters Opioid Overdoses

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Phoenix House of Tuscaloosa has announced plans to celebrate its 50th anniversary by hosting a Walk to End Addiction on May 7 at the Tuscaloosa River Walk.

Click here to subscribe to our free Tuscaloosa Daily newsletter and breaking news alerts

The Phoenix House, Inc. of Tuscaloosa is a freestanding, residential transition program that began operation in the late 1960's. Since first opening its doors, over 10,000 clients have received treatment for alcohol and drug addiction.

In an effort to combat drug overdoses, the nonprofit will also host one of the first public Naloxone training programs in Tuscaloosa, which will be provided by The University of Alabama's Project FREEDOM. Naloxone reverses an opioid overdose and can quickly restore breathing.

Project FREEDOM is a four-year, $3.2 million effort that focuses on 14 rural Alabama counties, including the Tuscaloosa metro area, with the goal of reducing opioid overdose deaths in rural Alabama by educating first responders on how to handle these types of overdoses.

The Phoenix House says one or more overdoses occur each day in the Tuscaloosa area — a statistic the nonprofit believes underscores the need for public awareness and education in administering medications that could save someone's life.

The training will focus on urgency in addressing an immediate medical emergency from a heroin or fentanyl overdose, considering that the next three or four minutes are critical once a person stops breathing.

Registration for the free event will start at 8:30 a.m. at former landing site of The Bama Belle, with the walk itself starting at 10 a.m.

Organizers said food truck vendors will be available and partners from the recovery community will also be on sight to provide information about their services to those interested.

T-Shirts will be available for purchase, with the proceeds going to benefit the services offered by the nonprofit.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.