Lots of travelers come to Florida this time of year to enjoy spring break on the beach, and some may decide to use substances during that time.
Advocates for addiction recovery are trying to promote safety by distributing free Narcan to beachgoers and businesses in Pinellas County.
Narcan is the brand name for the overdose reversal drug naloxone.
For weeks, Andy Francis with the Recovery Epicenter Foundation and local partners have been combing the beaches, offering the medicine to young people and workers at nearby businesses like convenience stores and bars.
One recent afternoon in Indian Rocks Beach, Francis drove from business to business, talking with owners about whether they’d be willing to make Narcan a part of their first-aid kits.
He explained that Pinellas has some of the highest drug overdose death rates in the state. He also talked about how naloxone works to curb them.
“Within five minutes of somebody experiencing an opioid overdose, you can administer this medication and it stops the overdose and saves their life,” Francis told one bar manager.
As a peer outreach specialist, Francis does this kind of outreach yearround to help people struggling with addiction.
But this spring break push is also about catching folks who may just use drugs occasionally or even for the first time.
“Drugs you wouldn't even think have fentanyl now have fentanyl in them,” explained Francis. “So even recreational drug users or kids who might just be here going to the beach looking to have a good time, they may be dealing with a very powerful opioid that could potentially kill them and have no idea.”
Francis also educates business owners about Florida’s good Samaritan law, which shields people from liability who try in good faith to help someone experiencing an emergency like a drug overdose.
During his recent outreach efforts in Indian Rocks Beach, a few were still wary and declined the Narcan. But most people accepted it, and some even noted they’ve known customers or loved ones who’ve overdosed.
Francis is in addiction recovery, so for him, this is personal.
“Every life matters, even people who are actively struggling with addiction every day, and I'm a personal testament to the fact that people deserve second, third, fourth, fifth chances,” he said.
Since the year began, Francis said he and his partners have distributed more than 800 doses of Narcan to hundreds of businesses and individuals in the county.
The spring break initiative wraps up at the end of the month.
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