Aetna Donates Narcan To Howard County

COLUMBIA, MD - From Howard County Government: Howard County Executive Allan H. Kittleman today announced a unique partnership with Aetna to combat the ongoing opioids crisis by training county employees in the use of naloxone kits donated by the Aetna Foundation.

The Foundation delivered 408 Narcan kits – the brand name for naloxone– to Howard County, the first donation of its kind to a county in Maryland. The kits, valued at more than $30,000, will be located in every Automated External Defibrillator (AED) box in county-owned buildings.

“We are battling the worst drug epidemic in U.S. history, and Howard County, like communities across the country, is experiencing the horrific impact of this crisis every day,” said Kittleman. “Tragically, we have already lost 55 residents this year to overdoses. But 161 lives have been saved, and in 90 percent of the cases, it’s because of naloxone.”

Kittleman committed to giving administrative leave to any employee who signs up for naloxone training. County police and fire department personnel are trained in the use of naloxone and carry it when responding to calls. And the county’s Health Department has trained more than 2,000 individuals, from motel and treatment center staff to concerned family members and friends.

“Aetna is honored to combat the opioid epidemic in partnership with Howard County. We hope that our donation and participation in Narcan training will assist community members in an immediate need, as well help combat the stigma all too commonly associated with addiction,” said Dr. Dan Knecht, Aetna Vice President, Clinical Strategy and Policy, who attended the event.

“As a resident of Howard County for more than 25 years, I am honored to respond to this important ‘call to action’ in my local community with the donation of these Narcan kits,” added Mike Bucci, president of Aetna’s operations in Maryland. “These kits can, and do, save lives.”

Immediately following the press conference, the first group of 25 county employees was trained in the use of the Narcan kits that will be placed in the AED boxes. In the months to come, the Health Department will work with other departments of county government to bring training to employees.

“With this generous donation of naloxone from Aetna, we will be able to ensure that members of the community, visitors and employees who enter our county buildings are able to access needed tools to be able to save a life in the case of an opioid overdose,” said Dr. Maura Rossman, Health Officer for Howard County. “We know this epidemic does not discriminate and having naloxone readily available can make the difference between life and death.”

According to the county Health Department, heroin-related overdose deaths here have more than quadrupled since 2010. Kittleman said the county continues to ramp up its response to the crisis, having hired a full-time heroin coordinator at the Police Department, adding an Opioid Project Administrator at the Health Department and increasing the availability of crisis intervention services through the Grassroots Crisis Center. The county is also working to secure a site to build a detox and residential treatment facility and hiring a Behavioral Health Court Liaison to improve access to community resources for individuals involved in the criminal justice system.

Aetna has been a health-care provider to Howard County employees since 2008. Aetna provides products and services to 7,600 enrolled members through Howard County Government, including employees and their families. Aetna’s donation of Narcan and additional support is part of its comprehensive strategy to prevent, identify and treat addiction.

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