Preventing Overdose Deaths, FCCS Equipping Caseworkers with Life-Saving Narcan


In a bold move aimed at preventing overdose deaths and the trauma on children who experience losing a loved one to drug addiction, Franklin County Children Services (FCCS) is teaming with Franklin County Public Health (FCPH) to equip the agency’s caseworkers and staff with the opioid overdose-reversing drug naloxone.

After completing training provided by experts from FCPH, FCCS caseworkers will be given a supply of Narcan nasal spray to carry with them when out in the community to meet with families. Doses of Narcan will also be stationed at the front desks of the agency’s office buildings.

“Despite the progress that’s been made in reducing overdose deaths, far too many residents in Franklin County are still losing their lives… which means far too many of their children are also losing their sense of safety, stability, and care,” said FCCS Executive Director Chip Spinning. 

“Franklin County Children Services is among the first in Ohio to join the growing number of public children service agencies across the country who are taking this unprecedented step of training and supplying their direct service teams with life-saving naloxone,” he pointed out.

Franklin County continues to experience a significant number of overdose deaths, with 701 fatalities linked to substance abuse recorded in 2023.

While the number of overdose deaths decreased in 2023, opioids - particularly fentanyl - remain the leading cause of substance-use disorder deaths, indicating an ongoing challenge throughout every part of Franklin County.

“From a nursing perspective, the ability to carry and administer Narcan is a critical, life-saving skill,” added Leah Afreh, FCCS Director of Screening & Medical in our Intake Division. “Professionals working with families impacted by opioid use disorder are often first to witness the devastating consequences of this epidemic.”

Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is a major driver of overdose deaths in Franklin County, accounting for 84% of overdose deaths in 2023. 

Families and children in three Columbus neighborhoods have been most impacted by these deaths, with the Franklinton (43222 zip code), Linden (43211), and South Hilltop (43223) communities recording the highest rates of unintentional overdose deaths.

“In light of this crisis, it is imperative that those working closely with vulnerable families have both the tools and the training to intervene,” Ms. Afreh said, noting that members of her team were among the first to take the training at FCCS provided by Franklin County Public Health.

There are also notable disparities in overdose deaths within Franklin County, with African American men experiencing a significantly higher rate compared to other groups. Addressing these disparities is a key area of focus for the Franklin County Overdose Fatality Review committee, which includes representatives from FCCS.

“Equipping child welfare professionals with Narcan empowers them to act swiftly during an overdose, protecting not only the lives of caregivers but also preserving family systems and the well-being of children,” Ms. Afreh noted.

Distribution of naloxone - which reverses the effects of opioids on the respiratory system and quickly restores breathing in someone experiencing an overdose - is a critical component of Franklin County’s harm reduction efforts. Last year, the county reported 934 known overdose reversals.

“Narcan doesn’t just save individuals,” shared Ms. Afreh, “it helps stabilize families and communities struggling to survive the far-reaching impact of opioid dependence.” 

In 2024, Franklin County’s naloxone program distributed the highest number of kits in the program’s history with nearly 23,000 kits shared - or four times as many kits than in 2021. The majority of these naloxone kits were funded by the Ohio Department of Health’s Project DAWN (Death Avoided With Naloxone).

One more note from Ms. Afreh: “I am excited that we are offering this training for FCCS staff to carry and know how to use Narcan properly not just in preparation, but as a vital tool to protect the lives of the families and children we serve.”

FOR FCCS STAFF WHO WISH TO SIGN UP FOR THE NALOXONE TRAINING

Staff who are interested in carrying life-saving Narcan should first review the new Naloxone Use by Staff policy recently approved by the agency’s Executive Council.

Our Professional Development team has scheduled the required one-hour training in the CAPS LMS system. The next sessions are July 31 and August 15.

To sign up, search for “Franklin County CPS: Naloxone Training” in CAPS LMS.

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