Published: 11/13/2025 | Author: Terri

Lorain County, Ohio has been hit hard by the opioid crisis but a new Narcan distribution program is seeking to change that, reports say. Volunteers are quietly dispersing to neighborhoods and communities throughout the county to hand out overdose reversal kits free of charge.

Fighting Stigmas, Saving Lives

Natalie Karn, a community health nursing supervisor from Lorain County Public Health, recently shed light on Lorain County’s naloxone distribution outreaches. 

Groups of volunteers in purple shirts have been going door to door throughout the autumn, enthusiastically asking residents in Ohio’s neighborhoods whether they would like to add Narcan (naloxone’s brand name) to their first aid kits. While some residents are reluctant, many are inquisitive and open, some even asking for extra doses to prepare to help their neighbors.

Narcan is a medication with the ability to help save the life of someone who has suffered an opioid overdose. The naloxone distribution program is part of Ohio’s Project DAWN. Named after Leslie Dawn Cooper, an Ohio woman who lost her life to an accidental overdose in 2009.

Project DAWN (Deaths Avoided With Narcan) is a statewide initiative to make Narcan as accessible as possible to all Ohioans. 

Proponents say the program is also making positive social impacts, as more residents report a willingness to have Narcan ready to use, even to save the lives of complete strangers. Part of what’s driving this shift in the public’s attitude toward naloxone is the compounding effect of more testimonies of ordinary folks using the medication to save lives.

Project DAWN’s Impact in Lorain County

In 2012, Lorain County became the first of the 83 Ohio counties to adopt the program, and has since made it possible for residents to get Narcan from police officers, churches, apartment buildings, and now, on delivery. 

This initiative has shown massive success in the county, with the official count of lives saved by ordinary residents being over 600.

The county has seen a remarkable 55% decline in overdose deaths over a three year period, far in excess of Ohio’s average decline of 17%. Officials say that the lower statewide rate of decline may stem from relatively slow progress in making the lifesaving drug more accessible in rural counties.

Potential Hindrances to Project DAWN

Unfortunately, not everyone has disabused themselves of the stigma towards Narcan and addiction more broadly. Restrictions on naloxone access and distribution remain in effect in some parts of the state.

In some areas, this includes prohibiting law enforcement officers from carrying Narcan and banning the medication’s presence at public libraries, a common point of access throughout the US. 

These factors, combined with a potential $3 million cut looming for Ohio’s harm reduction budget, are some of the obstacles Project DAWN currently faces.

Narcan’s Place in the Recovery Process

Despite the challenges, Karn and her team are pressing on with the program. They now have 77 distribution partners in Lorain County, including Family Planning Services, where a free harm reduction vending machine now dispenses Narcan. 

As a part of the campaign, the team is also emphasizing that Narcan is an emergency medication that’s meant to save a person’s life if they overdose. Further recovery requires comprehensive treatment as well as systemic changes in a person’s life to support their physical, emotional, social and financial wellbeing.

Take the First Step

If you’re looking to break free of the grasp of opioid addiction, there is hope. Find a qualified addiction recovery specialist, connect with NA meetings near you or call 800-934-1582(Sponsored) for immediate confidential support.