UF Donates to Findlay Health Department to Purchase Life-saving Drug

In response to increasing opioid overdoses in the region, The University of Findlay recently donated $1,500 to the Findlay Health Department to purchase Naloxone, a drug that reverses the deadly effects of excessive opioid use.
According to UF’s College of Pharmacy, Naloxone was administered by Ohio EMS personnel 12,256 times in 2013 and 15,493 times in 2014. From 2009 to 2015, Hancock County had 59 drug-related overdose deaths and 630 hospital emergency room visits caused by drug overdoses. “This data is indicative of a growing national epidemic of which Hancock County is not immune,” said Debra Parker, Pharm.D., College of Pharmacy Dean.
Recent state legislation and budget measures are now enabling greater availability of this life-saving drug. UF’s donation enables the Findlay Health Department to begin its Naloxone program and the lives of 25 Findlay and Hancock County residents could potentially be saved.