Due to the epidemic of deaths from fentanyl poisoning, the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles is offering the antidote known as Narcan, free of charge, to reverse possible fentanyl overdoses.
Telemundo 52 saw how they offer and educate about this useful tool that can make the difference between life and death.
At the Consulate of Mexico in Los Angeles, while people wait, in just minutes, they show those who come to do their paperwork how to use Narcan, a prevention initiative for Hispanic families.
Poisonings by fentanyl mixed with adulterated drugs do not discriminate between races or ages, and deaths are on the rise.
“Here in Los Angeles County, according to DSP, 551 died in 2021, and we believe many of them are Mexicans,” said Aida Velasco, Consul for Political Affairs at the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles.
And those who come to do paperwork at the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles can now receive the antidote Naloxone or Narcan for free, which is a nasal spray that reverses the effects of opioids, such as fentanyl.
Parents who have sued the social network “Snapchat” continue to fight asking this platform to modify the way it operates, because they allege that it was through this application that their children were able to buy pills adulterated with fentanyl, which ended up killing them. .
Currently, there is a binational prevention campaign, and according to Daniela Izaguirre, director of the health window, “trained personnel from the health department come twice a week to provide this information and to demonstrate how it can be used, and they are distributing it to those interested”.
Narcan spray can be carried in a purse or kept at home, as young people and adults alike, taking certain medications, may be at risk, experts say.
“It’s important to recognize that this is not about good or bad kids, it’s about being prepared for an emergency because you never know if it’s an adult who took more medicine,” said Alberto Melena, executive director of the San Fernando Valley Partnership.
This education and prevention campaign is having good acceptance among visitors to the diplomatic headquarters, they say.
Fortunately, parents are welcoming the topic. They’re watching the news and think their kids aren’t using, but sometimes it’s accidental, and having Narcan on hand can save lives.
Mondays and Wednesdays are the days that the consulate demonstrates how to administer Narcan, but you can ask for it at the health window so that they can give it to you for free any day you come to the consulate.
