Fentanyl: What You Need to Know

Fentanyl is an opioid drug, like morphine or heroin, and is one of the leading causes of drug overdose deaths in Cuyahoga County. It's made entirely in laboratories, with no natural ingredients. Although it is approved as a prescription pain medicine, Fentanyl is more powerful than many other opioid drugs. Even a small amount can cause a fatal overdose. That can even happen when a person takes fentanyl without knowing it, if it was added to counterfeit prescription pills or other illegal drugs. Remember: Any Drug May Contain Fentanyl.

When used in people, fentanyl can cause:

• Sedation
• A feeling of relaxation and happiness
• Changes in mood and thinking, such as wanting more
• Having a hard time concentrating or making decisions

Don't be alone. Carry Naloxone, the medication that reverses an overdose. How to access free Naloxone is listed below. If someone who has Naloxone is not physically near you, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

What if drugs contain fentanyl?

1. Discard it if you have no or low tolerance for opioids. Your risk of overdose is high.
2. If someone who has Naloxone can't be physically with you, call, text or chat with 988.
3. Carry Naloxone, the medication that reverses an overdose

Free Naloxone (Narcan) is Available

• Free Naloxone is available at five vending machines. *Indicates machines with other health access supplies such as safe sex kits and wound care.
  • *The Centers/Circle Health: 4400 Euclid Avenue
  • *The Centers Gordon Square: 5209 Detroit Avenue
  • *The Centers East: 12201 Euclid Avenue
  • *The Centers West: 3929 Rocky River Drive
  • Murtis Taylor: 13422 Kinsman Road
  • *MetroHealth Main Campus: 2500 Metrohealth Drive
• Get Naloxone mailed to you for free from Thrive for Change or NEXT Distro.
• Project DAWN has various locations you can pick up from. Click here to view the locations. 

Carrying Naloxone is an Act of Love Videos

Learn more about these Naloxone is an Act of Love productions at weare2ndact.org/love.

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Xylazine: What You Need to Know

A tranquilizer called xylazine, a non-opioid sedative also referred as "tranq" or "tranq dope", is increasingly being found in the US illegal drug supply and linked to overdose deaths. Xylazine, which is not approved for use in people and can slow down the brain and breathing, make the heart beat slower, and lower blood pressure in people, is especially dangerous when combined with opioids like fentanyl.

When used in people, xylazine can cause:

• Sedation
• Difficulty breathing
• Dangerously low blood pressure
• Slowed heart rate
• Wounds that can become infected
• Severe withdrawal symptoms
• Death

Illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl can be mixed with xylazine, either to enhance drug effects or increase street value by increasing their weight.

Naloxone should be given in response to any suspected drug overdose to reverse any possible opioid effects. Naloxone will not reverse the effects of xylazine. However, because xylazine is often used with opioids like fentanyl, naloxone should still be given. It's important to call 911 for additional medical treatment, especially since the effects of xylazine may continue after naloxone is given.

Don't be alone. If someone who has Naloxone is not physically near you, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Syringe Exchange is Available

• MetroHealth: Mobile unit is parked at 3370 West 25th St. on weekdays from 10 am to 2 pm
• The Centers/Circle Health Services
  • 12201 Euclid Ave.: Weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm
  • 3929 Rocky River Dr.: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 am to 4 pm
  • 12791 Superior Avenue: Mondays and Fridays from 12 pm – 4 pm 
  • Mead House: Wednesdays from  9 am – 4 pm
  • 3711 E. 65^th St.: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 pm – 4 pm
  • Thrive for Change: Secondary Site for The Centers Syringe Services – Thursdays from 11 am – 1 pm & 2 pm – 4 pm

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Emergency Access Naloxone Cabinets for Businesses and Providers

What is an Emergency Access Naloxone Cabinet?

It is a box that hangs on the wall to store Naloxone/Narcan, the life-saving opioid overdose reversal drug, much like you see AED machines in public places. It allows the public easy access to Narcan during an overdose emergency.

Where are the cabinets located?

Cabinets will be installed in various public and private areas where a high number of overdoses are reported. Units should be located in easily accessible and highly visible areas that are not exposed to direct sunlight or extreme temperatures.

Who runs the program?

The Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County is funding the program. MetroHealth’s Project DAWN is administering the program’s naloxone distribution, tracking and supply refill, and providing overdose and Narcan training to facility staff.

How can I get involved?

1. Agree to put a cabinet on your property if you are in an area affected by overdoses.
2. Promote cabinets to partners and places whose facility would be a good fit for this overdose reduction tool.

Please contact the ADAMHS Board via email to sizemore@adamhscc.org, if you are interested in learning more about the program.

The Good Samaritan Law and Emergency Access Naloxone Cabinets

Ohio law contains a “Good Samaritan” clause that protects someone who gives naloxone to an overdosing person and then calls 9-1-1, even if the caller was using drugs. This same law applies to locations that host NaloxBoxes (Section 2925.61: https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-2925.61).

Click here to download this information about the program.

Click here for a map of NaloxBox locations.

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Community Alerts

• Ready Notify: Voluntary emergency notification system used in Cuyahoga County. Overdose alerts are now included when you sign up for general alerts.

• The SOAR Initiative: Subscribe to the alert network to receive notifications about overdose surges and bad batch alerts in your region.

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Dispose of Unused Medications

It's important for all of us to clean out our medicine cabinets regularly and safely dispose of any expired or unused medications. You can take these medications to a drug drop box. Click here to find the drop box closest to you.