Rotary Club Forms Nonprofit To Promote Narcan

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ALPHARETTA, GA -- Drug abuse and overdoses have spiked in the North Fulton area and have reached epidemic proportions.

Members of the Rotary Club of Alpharetta believe this trend must be reversed, and have taken strategic steps to address the issue.

The club has created a non-profit group called Communities Against Addiction Group (CAAG). A key component of the group is to educate the public on the Georgia Good Samaritan Law and Narcan, an opioid receptor blocker used to reverse drug overdoses through nasal administration.

The Good Samaritan Law was signed by Governor Nathan Deal in 2014 that grants immunity from prosecution to someone who seeks medical attention for themselves or someone else when involved in a drug overdose situation.

It also allows first responders to administer Narcan, which can temporarily reverse an overdose of heroin, codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine and oxycodone.

The group is partnering with seven segments of the community -- schools, business, faith, justice, mental health, health care and caretakers -- to promote its campaign.

The club committed $10,000 to launch CAAG and has pledged an additional $10,000 over the next two years. It will also be seeking additional community support in order to spread accurate information about the new law and to encourage people to help the victims of overdoses.

“I am passionate about this service to the community," said Rotary Club President Kirk Driskell. "I want everyone to know about Narcan and how it can help people who have overdosed to stay alive. I urge you to call 911 if you find yourself in a situation where you or someone you know has overdosed and needs help.”

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Photo: from left to right: Kirk Driskell, Ryan Stringfield, Edward Bailey, David Laws, Fulton County Commissioner Liz Hausmann, Captain Will Merrill, Didi Nelson, Chief Steve Krokoff, Remco Brommet and Dave McCleary.