'All lives have value': Harm reduction organizations discuss resources on National Fentanyl Awareness Day

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- May 9 is National Fentanyl Awareness Day.

The highly potent synthetic opioid is being found in street drugs, leading to lethal overdoses.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reports fentanyl kills nearly 200 Americans every day, making it the leading cause of death for individuals 18-45 years old.

Several programs in our region are hoping to slow the crisis by making certain resources accessible to anyone in need.

"All lives have value, and if we're going to live that out, it means meeting folks where they're at," said Bill Keeton, chief advocacy officer for Vivent Health.

Vivent Health provides harm reduction services, offering free Narcan, clean syringes, fentanyl test strips, and access to treatment.

"We know that folks are going to still seek it out and still engage in the behavior, so what can we do to make it safe as possible," Keeton said.

With overdose deaths on the rise, fentanyl is often the culprit.

Vivent Health distributed 14,000 fentanyl testing strips in Milwaukee last year.

"We can help make sure that folks are aware of what is in their drug supply that they may be using," Keeton said, "And take the steps they need, once they know if it's fentanyl or not, to keep themselves healthy and safe."

Communities across the region are working to make these resources more accessible.

On National Fentanyl Awareness Day, Waukesha County announced the installation of overdose aid kits, stocked with Narcan and testing strips.

"We're using it as another tool in our toolbox to help with harm reduction and the reduction of overdose deaths," said Felicia Behnke Shaw, a clinical therapist at Waukesha County Health and Human Services.

The kits are currently in Waukesha County's Department of Health and Parks facilities.

You can learn more about the initiative here.

Click here for a map of Wisconsin locations that provide free fentanyl test strips.