Denver inmates can leave jail with free Narcan and fentanyl test strips

DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver Sheriff Division launched a program that sends launched inmates dwelling with instruments to fight fentanyl overdoses. 

Statistics are fueling a have to do one thing concerning the fentanyl disaster in Denver County jails.

“Sadly, when people go away each jail and prisons, they’re 40 to 129 instances extra more likely to die of overdose upon launch inside that two-week time interval,” Dr. Nikki Johnson, DSD chief of psychological well being companies, mentioned. 

The sheriff’s workplace has now put greater than $110,000 in state grant cash towards launching a brand new Hurt Discount Launch Bag pilot program. For the following 90 days, folks being launched to the group from the Downtown Detention Middle and the Denver County Jail will likely be supplied the luggage.

The luggage will embody one dose of Narcan, 5 fentanyl check strips, inpatient and outpatient medication-assisted therapy sources within the Denver space, and a contact quantity for Narcan alternative.

“We all know that each single day persons are dying so, for us, it’s about serving to the parents which are leaving to remain alive,” Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins mentioned.

The Denver Division of Public Well being and Atmosphere estimates that there have been roughly 449 drug-related deaths in Denver final 12 months.

Denver’s downtown and county jails launch roughly 40 folks a day. Johnson estimates round 80% of these leaving will stroll out with a bag.

“We all know that over 95% of our inhabitants will get out,” Johnson mentioned. “These are members of the family. These are kids. These are our neighbors, group members. So, it’s actually essential to us to have the ability to present this for all of these people and to save lots of a life.”

Hurt Discount Launch Baggage will likely be a 90-day pilot program, which will likely be reviewed after 30 days, to find out sustainability primarily based on want.