Partnership Carson City responds to national drug use, overdose trends
Each year, millions of lives are affected by substance abuse and addiction in the United States. In 2020, the U.S. witnessed an increase in drug use and overdose, and the state of Nevada was hit especially hard. Partnership Carson City, based in Nevada’s capital city, is taking action by offering tangible and virtual resources for drug addiction, education and prevention.
Partnership Carson City offers NARCAN (naloxone) kits for opioid overdoses, prescription medication lockboxes, marijuana and cannabis sealed bags, Deterra drug disposal system and many books and resources on drug education and mental health as well as a variety of programs designed to help kids and families be healthy and safe. Limited supplies are available of the kits and are made available on a first come first served basis.
“At Partnership Carson City, it’s our mission to foster a healthy community through education, collaboration and engagement of our community members, which is why we offer effective resources for anyone seeking help for addictions as well as those looking to helps support loved ones,” said Partnership Carson City’s executive director Hannah McDonald. “Our doors are open and our team is trained to offer support and resources.”
In 2020, the National Drug Helpline placed Nevada on “red alert” for risk of death from overdose along with 27 other states. From the first to the second quarter of 2020, Nevada also witnessed a 50% increase in opioid and fentanyl-involved drug overdose deaths, with 98 deaths from January through March and 147 from April through June, according to the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.
“Our philosophy is that it’s always better to prevent problems than to treat them later,” said McDonald. “That’s why we offer tangible drug resources in the form of kits and disposal tools to aid in the prevention before it becomes a larger problem.”
Every other month, Partnership offers a free virtual naloxone training. NARCAN (naloxone) is a medication designed to rapidly and safely reverse an opioid overdose. The next training is Thursday, June 17. Learn more about naloxone and join the training here.
Partnership also offers a course for anyone who sells or serves alcohol, tobacco or marijuana products in Carson City. The Responsible Beverage Server training is offered every other month with the next class on July 12, 2021. Private server training group classes are also available. For more information or to schedule a private class, visit our website here.
To help aid in pain management, Partnership Carson City hosts free in-person Monday yoga starting at 5:15 p.m.
Throughout 2020, Partnership Carson City created a variety of virtual resources, and each are available as ongoing resources made available online here.
For ongoing content and resources, connect with Partnership Carson City on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube or visit the offices in person located at 1925 N. Carson St. in the Frontier Plaza.
About Partnership Carson City
Partnership started as an effort to fight the spread of methamphetamine more than a decade ago. Since then, it has taken on the role of a coalition to support and organize all kinds of services throughout the capital city. Partnership still focuses on stopping drug abuse, promoting a variety of programs that help youth and families be safer and healthier.