Drug Overdose Prevention Programs

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LCHD's Drug Overdose Prevention (DOP) program works to implement comprehensive community-based efforts to address drug use and misuse through: coalition development, community needs assessment and evaluation, formation of an overdose fatality review, and development of policy, systems and environmental change strategies to address the issue.

Licking County now has an Overdose Spike Texting Alert System! Stay informed and text "LCoverdose" to 898211 for real-time alerts!

Ohio Dept of Health Project Dawn Larger

Project DAWN - Deaths Avoided With Naloxone (NARCAN®)

Project DAWN is a community-wide naloxone (also known as NARCAN®) distribution program. Naloxone is a medication that can be used to reverse an overdose caused by an opioid drug.

The project educates individuals who use opioids, their family, and their friends on how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a drug overdose and how to administer Naloxone (NARCAN®).

Agencies and organizations that distribute Naloxone:

    • Licking County Health Department – 675 Price Road, Newark, OH 43055
    • Behavioral Healthcare Partners – 65 Messimer Drive, Newark, OH 43055
    • Family Health Services – 100 McMillen Drive, Newark, OH 43055
    • Genoa Pharmacy – 65 Messimer Drive, Newark, OH 43055
    • Licking County Alcoholism Prevention Program (LAPP) – 62 E Stevens Street, Newark, OH 43055
    • Shepherd Hill – 200 Messimer Drive, Newark, OH 43055

Project DAWN Naloxone Training Videos:

For more information on personal use, if your place of employment would like to have Naloxone (NARCAN®) on site for emergency use, or if your place of employment would like to become a Project DAWN Secondary Distribution Site please call (740) 349-6535 or email us.

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Undoing Stigma - Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

A substance use disorder (SUD) is a medical illness which ranges from mild to severe and from temporary to chronic. A SUD develops when continued misuse of a drug changes the brain and causes health problems and failure to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home. The DOP program is also working to reduce the stigma that often surrounds substance use disorders.

What is stigma?

Stigma is a negative perception of a person or a group of people. Stigma tends to be based on assumptions or misconceptions. Individuals with Substance Use Disorder (SUD) can feel the effects of stigma from society, employers, health professionals, and even family/friends. Being stigmatized can discourage people with SUD to seek treatment, increase feelings of shame or guilt, and increase barriers to support.

Undoing Stigma:

SUD is a medical condition that affects a person's brain and behavior, leading to the inability to control the use of substances — such as drugs or alcohol. SUD can range from mild to severe and from temporary to chronic. LCHD’s DOP program is working to reduce the stigma that often follows substance use disorders. Reducing stigma is crucial in allowing recovery to be more accessible and supported within our community.

Types of stigma:

There are seven types of stigma including: public, self, perceived, label, structural, health practitioner, and associative. Stigma can not only be external and come from society or other individuals, but stigma can also be internalized and can create negative feelings or attitudes that you feel about yourself.

 

You and your community can actively work to reduce stigma!

There are ways you and your community can actively participate in reducing stigma and negative bias toward substance use disorder. One way is by focusing on using person-first language. Instead of saying “drug addict,” say “person with substance use disorder.” This supports the notion that the individual is more than their condition. Interested in learning more about Undoing Stigma training for your group or organization? Please call (740) 349-6535.

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Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator

https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/

Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services in Licking County

Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services that serve Licking County Residents

Click here to find practitioners authorized to treat opioid dependency with buprenorphine (Medication Assisted Treatment)
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Prescription Drugs and Sharps Disposal

Medicines play an important role in treating certain conditions and diseases, but they must be taken with care. Secure storage and safe disposal of pain medications, antidepressants, and other expired or un-needed medications reduces the risk of misuse by children or others. For a $5.00 fee, the Licking County Health Department accepts normal sized sharps containers for disposal from households.

LCHD cannot accept any medications for disposal.

Under Ohio law, only law enforcement agencies and pharmacies can be prescription drug drop off locations. Drug Take Back Days are offered twice a year in April and October, but it is best to dispose of unused drugs throughout the year by visiting a drop off location.

In Licking County the following locations accept pills, however, they do not accept liquid medications or sharps.

  • Licking County Sheriff’s Office, 155 E Main Street, Newark, Ohio 43055
  • Newark Police Department, 39 S. 4th Street, Newark, Ohio 43055
  • Pataskala Police Department, 623 W. Broad Street, Pataskala, Ohio 43062
  • Johnstown Police Department, 599 D. Main St., Johnstown, Ohio 43031
  • Hebron Police Department, 934 W. Main St., Hebron, Ohio 43025
  • Heath Police Department, 1287 Hebron Rd., Heath, Ohio 43056

Learn more about at-home medication disposal here:

  • Disposal options for specific medications:
    • Small amounts of most medications can either be disposed of by mixing the medication with solid waste, or by flushing the medication down the drain.
  • Disposal options for household generated sharps:
    • Small quantities of syringes from personal use can be disposed of with your solid waste. Guidelines suggest placing used needles in a household container such as a laundry detergent bottle, bleach bottle, or a sturdy, opaque plastic container with a screw-top lid. When the container is 3/4 of the way full, seal the lid with duct tape, label "SHARPS" and "DO NOT RECYCLE" and place container in your regular trash. Find further instructions at the link above.
  • Deterra Medication Disposal Pouches are available as supplies last at the Licking County Health Department. Call 740-349-6535 and ask for our Drug Overdose Prevention program.
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