NWTC Service-Learning and Civic Engagement 2018-2019 | Page 39

we’re learning through the service-
learning project is learning about
the stigmas that go along with drug
abuse.” Colten Murphy, a first-year
Nursing student shared. “I’ve been
working in health care for a few
years and we mostly learned about
harm reduction, so basically reducing
the harm to the drug abuser.”
Murphy continued, “The needle
exchange and NARCAN kit programs
give a way to use safely until they
reach a point where they are ready
to become sober. So that’s kind of
the theory behind it. More empathy
and compassion rather than sobriety
first abstinence method for those
suffering from addiction.”
Jim Brunner, an AIDS Resource Center
Prevention Specialist shared that
the purpose of Narcan isn’t just for
drug abusers, they can also be for
those with prescriptions. “I don’t think
there are enough individuals who
know they can get Narcan and that’s
why there’s such a heavy need.”
The needle exchange and
NARCAN kit programs give
a way to use safely until they reach a point
where they are ready to become sober…
Colton Murphy
first-year Nursing student
According to Jim, “Even with family
members who are prescribed opioids,
it would be so beneficial to have
Narcan available in their homes.”
AIDS Resource Centers also offer
training sessions across the state
on how to administer Narcan. Nasal
sprays are commonly regarded
as being easiest to administer
because the method is similar to
that of common allergy sprays.
People from all walks of life are
being trained, from opioid users to
first responders, people in public
agencies, and private businesses.
Officials with the AIDS Resource
Center of Wisconsin say over the
past year, about 6,000 people in
the state have been trained on how
to administer Narcan nasal spray.
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