Urban Leaguers Begin NARCAN Distribution in St. Louis

 

ST. LOUIS, MO – Workers of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (St. Louis, MO) have taken to the streets to fight the opioid crisis.

In partnership with Americorps and the Black Alcohol/Drug Information Center (B.A.S.I.C), the Urban League of Metropolitan ST. Louis have begun 30-day initiative that will distribute NARCAN in neighborhoods where open drug use is apparent. The initiative has a goal of giving out 200 Narcan vials per day. NARCAN, according to the FDA, has been shown to reverse an opioid overdose.

On Tuesday, February 22nd, workers from the Urban League’s Serving Our Streets team were out at a market at St. Louis Avenue and North Kingshighway distributing COVID-19 supplies, food, educational materials, and support program information, along with vials of the opioid blocking medicine.

James Clark, Vice President of the Urban League’s Division of Public Safety and Community Response (PSCR) is passionate about fighting this crisis.

His team have set up a triage station every Tuesday and Thursday in key areas around St. Louis for over a year. At these stations, they offer food, clothing, NARCAN, and other materials to residents. The current month-long initiative comes as a response to a spike in overdose deaths.

“We are at war, and it will take more collaboration, more resources, and more focus on the ground to assist those who are suffering from addiction. This is a medical and community emergency,” Clark said.

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