A big tool in the fight to save a generation from opioid addiction is Naloxone. The drug known as Narcan can save the life of a person having an overdose and give them a second chance. That has prompted a former Florida firefighter to cross the country delivering Narcan to as many people as possible.
That includes Gurdon and Clark County, where Luis Garcia will be greeted by law enforcement already aware the opioid crisis exists in even the smallest cities.
“The fact that we can talk personally with the community really means a lot to us,” said Gurdon deputy marshal Brandon Ellis. “We can reach out to the community and help pass along information that's not only country wide but actually affects everybody here locally.”
Garcia will find Gurdon is a little out of the way, but worth the stop on his mission to save lives. He's a retired firefighter who used Narcan to save people from overdoses while on the job for almost 30 years.
It led him to lead free training session and give the stuff away. He used an award-winning GoFundMe campaign to back his effort and hit the road. Next stop: Arkansas.
“We're looking for all emergency personnel which includes hospitals, other law departments, first responders,” said deputy Ellis, who is on the staff with marshal Toby Garner, the man who worked to make Clark County a stop on Garcia’s tour. “Narcan is such a useful tool to help when it's the difference between saving someone's life and not.”
Garcia’s first session is Friday, Feb 8 at 7 p.m. at the Gurdon Municipal Building. The next morning he will hold two sessions at Henderson State College in Arkadelphia at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Admission is free and the public is encouraged to join the law enforcement and emergency professionals. Attendees should call 954-859-4696.