The following is a press release from the Audrain County Health Department.
The employees’ shift began as it always had: Paperwork, tidying up and waiting on customers.
Just the normal routine that happens every single day in every single business with a public restroom in the City of Mexico.
Everything was going like clockwork until a certain customer came in, entered the bathroom and did not reappear for approximately 45 minutes.
“An (individual) came in, got high in the bathroom, way too high,” the employee explained.
“Forty-five minutes later, I finally got (them) to open the door and (they) collapsed.
I NARCAN-ed (them).
I went to call for an ambulance and before I got to the phone, (the individual was) up and running out the door.”
The employee thought the story ended there.
Unfortunately, it did not.
The person had left everything behind in escaping, including drug paraphernalia and, unbeknownst to the employee, a lot of drug residue.
“I did not know the (what turned out to be) fentanyl was spread out in that bathroom and I happened to touch the door, put my whole hand against it, and had to use Narcan on myself because I was high for four hours after that,” the employee explained.
In order to protect the general public from this increasing threat, the ACHD is offering one can of NARCAN to each business or organization with a public restroom in Mexico and Audrain County, along with instructions on how to administer the opioid counter drug when someone is overdosing.
“We started with the frequently trafficked or high trafficked stores and organizations as they see a large volume of traffic using their public restrooms on a consistent basis,” said ACHD Administrator/CEO Craig Brace. “When we learned of this incident, it just became a no-brainer to say ‘Hey, this is starting to affect not only those using the opioids but, also, the general public that use these bathrooms on a consistent basis.
Our job as a health department is to Prevent, Promote, Protect our residents as best we can and, we feel providing these kits is a step in the right direction.”
The employee affected is glad something is being done.
“NARCAN is a very good thing,” the employee said. “I’m glad we have it available and have it on hand because, otherwise, there’d be a lot of people that’d be … well, they’d be dead.”
Brace says the ACHD has NARCAN for anyone in the county available at the health department and, that includes those businesses with a public restroom.
“No questions asked,” he said. “We don’t want to know anything about those requesting a dose. No name, no identifying information, nothing.
We just want to get as much of this into the hands of as many people in the county that want it as possible. Unfortunately, this happened and, unfortunately, it will probably happen again and, we want our population to be prepared.”
To receive a free dose package along with instructions on how to use it and resources for those that may be seeking help, all a person has to do is stop by the health department on south Elmwood Drive Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., excepting holidays and ask to speak to a nurse about receiving a free dose.