Washington County, Lakeview Hospital Partner to Reduce Overdoses

Lakeview Hospital and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) are collaborating on a project to reduce accidental opioid overdoses in Washington County.

Opioids are commonly associated with the illegal drug, heroin; however, opioids (opium) are also included in prescription medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine and fentanyl.

Opioid use and opioid-related overdoses are an increasing problem in the U.S. and in the Twin Cities metro areas, including Washington County.

In 2015, Lakeview’s Emergency Medicine Services (EMS) staff responded to more than 200 potential opioid overdose calls and administered Naloxone Hydrochloride – also known as Narcan – in 30 of those instances, according to authorities.

Naloxone can reverse the effects of an opiod overdose. As part of the opioid project collaboration, Lakeview EMS staff supplies Naloxone to the WCSO licensed deputies and trains the staff on how to administer the medication to patients in the event they are on the scene of an opioid overdose prior to the EMS team arriving.

Deputies use a preloaded kit (see picture below) that has an atomizer (mist) that is administered through the nasal cavity, according to a news release.

“Having our deputies trained to administer Naloxone could be lifesaving for citizens,” Washington County Sheriff Bill Hutton said in a statement. “In Washington County, we’re seeing prescription opiates being sold and possessed. Despite our proactive efforts to educate and enforce, we continue to see overdoses in our community.”

“This partnership with our county’s sheriff’s office is important for our community and the health of our residents,” said Ted Wegleitner, Lakeview Hospital President.

Drug overdose deaths, driven largely by prescription overdoses, are the leading cause of injury death in the United States – surpassing motor vehicle crashes.

Washington County has three anonymous (no questions asked) collection sites for people to turn in opioids and other prescription drugs.

• Washington County Sheriff's OfficeLaw Enforcement Center15015 62nd Street NorthP.O. Box 3801Stillwater, MN 55082
• Washington County Cottage Grove Service Center 13000 Ravine Parkway SouthCottage Grove MN 55016
• Washington County Headwaters Service Center19995 Forest Lake Road North Forest Lake, MN 55025

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