The opioid crisis is hitting close to home—but there’s HOPE. Our community is seeing real progress:
THE LOCAL REALITY:
�Flagler County: 30 overdose deaths in 2023
� District 23 (St. Johns, Putnam & Flagler): Fentanyl deaths dropped from 80 in 2023 to 54 in 2024—a 33% DECREASE
Dr. Wendolyn Sneed, Medical Examiner for our counties, confirms ALL THREE counties are experiencing declines in overdose deaths But dangerous myths about Narcan still prevent people from carrying this life- saving medication.
Let’s set the record straight:
❌ MYTH: “You can get high from Narcan” ✅ TRUTH: Scientifically IMPOSSIBLE.
Narcan has ZERO potential for abuse. It blocks opioid receptors—it doesn’t activate
them. There is no “high” to experience. If you give Narcan to someone without opioids
in their system, nothing happens.
❌ MYTH: “Narcan enables drug use” ✅ TRUTH: Research shows Narcan availability
does NOT increase drug use. In our three-county region, having Narcan readily
available has contributed to the 33% decrease in fentanyl deaths we’ve seen from 2023
to 2024.
❌ MYTH: “You need medical training to use Narcan” ✅ TRUTH: Anyone can use
Narcan! The nasal spray is as simple as spraying into one nostril. You can’t harm
someone by administering it.
❌ MYTH: “Narcan is expensive and hard to get” ✅ TRUTH: FREE Narcan is available
right here!
Flagler OARS provides free Narcan kits, free training, and free distribution kiosks (The Barney Naloxone Stand™) for businesses. Discover and Recover serves St. Johns County. We deliver, install, and keep them full at NO COST.
The Bottom Line: Our community went from 80 fentanyl deaths to 54—a 33% drop. Community intervention WORKS. But we can’t stop now. Narcan doesn’t enable addiction—it enables SURVIVAL. And survival is the first step toward recovery.
�� 80 → 54 fentanyl deaths (33% decrease) �� Every person deserves a chance at life
�� Every community member can be a lifesaver �� Progress is possible when we work together
Want to help save lives? �� Contact Flagler OARS for free Narcan training or to request a kiosk for your business �� flagleroars.org | discoverrecover.org
Together, we’re building a recovery-friendly Northeast Florida. ��