In response to the alarming rise in opioid overdoses, community partners are joining forces to provide crucial training and resources to Baldwin County residents.

The Community Overdose Prevention Effort (C.O.P.E.) will host a meeting on Tuesday, July 30, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Fairhope Civic Center located at 348 Oak St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for light refreshments and networking with community partners. No registration is required, and attendees will receive a complimentary Narcan kit upon completing the training.

According to the Fairhope Police Department who is hosting the training class, opioid overdoses have nearly doubled nationwide in the last five years, involving both prescription opioids and synthetic opioids like fentanyl, often found in counterfeit pills sold online or on the streets. Baldwin County has seen a significant increase in overdose deaths, rising from 22 in 2019 to 75 in 2023.

The Fairhope Police Department is hoping to educate the community about the dangers of fentanyl and what to do if they are in contact with the drug as fentanyl amounts smaller than the tip of a pen can be lethal and anyone can come into contact with the drug.

Keeping naloxone (Narcan) accessible in your purse, car, home or office can be crucial in assisting someone experiencing an overdose. Making this life-saving medication more readily available in the community could be key to saving a friend or neighbor's life.

C.O.P.E. partners include Baldwin County Community Alliance, Coastal Alabama Community College, Door to Serenity, Fairhope Police Department, People Engaged in Recovery and Thomas Hospital. Join this important event to learn how to administer Narcan and help combat the opioid crisis in Baldwin County.