Avera Partners With Emily’s Hope to Expand Access to Free Naloxone

Avera is partnering with Emily's Hope to make free naloxone, also known as Narcan^®, available at numerous Avera sites across South Dakota.

Naloxone can save a life if someone takes too many opioids (like pain pills or heroin) by reversing opioid effects and helping the person to wake up and start breathing properly. It's a nasal spray with no needles involved. While it can be lifesaving for someone who is overdosing, it won't hurt someone if they aren't truly overdosing.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Emily's Hope to make naloxone more widely available across the Avera footprint," said Mara Hermiston, DO, Chief Medical Officer for Avera Medical Group. "We're committed to helping people at every stage of their recovery journey, and this partnership expands access to a critical tool that saves lives."

Emily's Hope, a Sioux Falls-based nonprofit working to remove the stigma of substance use and addiction, is providing the free naloxone kits and will continue to keep the distribution boxes restocked. Founded by journalist Angela Kennecke after losing her daughter Emily to fentanyl poisoning, Emily's Hope works to remove the stigma of substance use disorder through awareness, education, prevention, and treatment support.

"This partnership with Avera allows us to put life-saving naloxone directly into the hands of people across South Dakota," said Angela Kennecke, founder of Emily's Hope. "Every kit represents a second chance - for someone's child, parent or friend. At Emily's Hope, our mission is to remove the stigma around substance use disorder and prevent overdose deaths, and we're grateful that Avera shares that commitment."

To date, Emily's Hope has distributed more than 22,000 doses of naloxone across South Dakota and is working toward placing more than 45 naloxone distribution boxes statewide. The partnership with Avera brings that goal one step closer, helping to ensure that anyone can access this life-saving medication in an emergency.

Naloxone distribution boxes are being installed at these Avera locations:

• Avera Behavioral Health Urgent Care - 69th Street, Sioux Falls
• Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center Emergency Department, Sioux Falls
• Avera Sacred Heart Hospital Emergency Department, Yankton

Smaller naloxone kits will be available at other Avera locations across the state. Naloxone is also available at most pharmacies (just ask). You can find a pharmacy near you atletsbeclearsd.com/prevention/reverse-overdose or request online throughEmily's Hope.

The naloxone distribution program is a collaboration between Emily's Hope, the South Dakota Department of Health, the Department of Social Services, the Attorney General's Office, and local partners such as Avera.

Opioids are highly addictive narcotics commonly prescribed for severe pain. And even though they provide relief for those struggling, they must be used with extreme caution. Opioids are a major contributor to fatal overdoses in South Dakota.

Everyone is encouraged to carry naloxone with them, especially anyone who lives with or knows someone at risk for opioid overdose. Signs of an opioid overdose:

• Very slow or no breathing
• Small, tiny eye pupils
• Weird snoring or gurgling
• Cold or blue skin
• Won't wake up
• Limp body

If you see these signs, call 911 right away and administer naloxone.

Learn more about Avera behavioral health and addiction care services.

Learn more about Emily's Hope's naloxone program and substance use prevention efforts at emilyshope.charity/narcan.