Opioid Prevention and Recovery Resources
Mesa County Public Health provides resources about naloxone, as well as opioid overdose prevention and treatment options. Our agency also manages naloxone kiosks throughout Mesa County.
How do I administer naloxone nasal spray?
What is naloxone?
Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose.
It attaches to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effects of other opioids. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose.
It has no effect on someone who does not have opioids in their system, and it is not a treatment for opioid use disorder.
Narcan is the brand name for naloxone.
Naloxone can reverse the effects of an overdose from these opioids:
- Heroin
- Morphine
- Oxycodone (OxyContin)
- Methadone
- Fentanyl
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin)
- Codeine
- Hydromorphone
What to do if someone is overdosing?
- Evaluate the person for signs of an opioid overdose.
- Administer naloxone and then call 911.
- Try to keep the person awake and breathing.
- Lay the person on their side to prevent choking.
- Stay with the person until emergency help arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Unconsciousness or unable to wake up
- Slow or shallow breathing
- Difficulty breathing such as choking sounds or a gurgling and snoring noise from a person who cannot be woken up
- Discolored skin, especially the nails or lips
- Small, constricted pinpoint pupils that don't react to light
- Vomiting
- An inability to speak
- Faint heartbeat
- Limp arms and legs
- Pale skin
In Colorado, a person is immune from criminal prosecution for an offense when the person reports, in good faith, an emergency drug or alcohol overdose even to a law enforcement officer, to the 911 system, or to a medical provider.
Do not use naloxone nasal spray if you are allergic to naloxone hydrochloride or any of the ingredients in Narcan Nasal Spray.
Naloxone may cause serious side effects, including sudden opioid withdrawal symptoms:
- Body aches
- Fever
- Sweating
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Goose bumps
- Yawning
- Weakness
- Shivering or trembling
- Nervousness, restlessness or irritability
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach cramping
- Increased blood pressure
- Increased heart rate.
Sudden opioid withdrawal may be life-threatening for infants under four-weeks old who have been receiving opioids regularly if not treated the right way. Those symptoms include:
- Seizures
- Crying more than usual
- Increased reflexes
Possible adverse reactions related to reversing dependency and precipitating opioid withdrawal:
- Fever
- Hypertension
- Tachycardia (very rapid heart rate)
- Agitation
- Restlessness
- Diarrhea
- Nausea or vomiting
- Myalgia (muscle aches/pains)
- Excessive sweating
- Abdominal cramping
- Yawning
- Sneezing
Symptoms may appear within minutes of naloxone administration and subside in approximately two hours. Severity and duration of the withdrawal syndrome is related to the dose of naloxone and the degree of opioid dependence. Adverse effects beyond opioid withdrawal are rare.
Contraindications
Do not administer naloxone to a person with known naloxone hypersensitivity or with any ingredients listed in the naloxone package insert. Do not administer naloxone in suspected cardiac arrest when the apparent cause is not an opioid overdose.
Naloxone kiosks in Mesa County
Mesa County Public Health has placed naloxone kiosks throughout the community to provide free and easy access for anyone in need.
In partnership with the Western Colorado Area Health Education Center (WCAHEC), these kiosks are regularly maintained and restocked to ensure availability.
Each kiosk includes naloxone and bilingual instructions to guide you in assisting someone experiencing an overdose. Together, we’re working to save lives and support harm reduction in our community.
Kiosk locations
| Name of building | Address |
|---|---|
| Colorado Health Network | 1001 Wellington Ave. Grand Junction, CO 81501 |
| Colorado Mesa University, University Center | 1455 N 12th St. Grand Junction, CO 81501 |
| Mesa County Criminal Justice Center | 636 South Ave. Grand Junction, CO 81501 |
| Mesa County Criminal Justice Services, Treatment Center | 436 S. 7th St. Grand Junction, CO 81501 |
| Mesa County Libraries, Clifton Branch | 3270 D 1/2 Road, Building A Clifton, CO 81520 |
| Mesa County Public Health Clinic | 510 29 1/2 Rd. Grand Junction, CO 81504 |
| Mesa County Sheriff's Office, Detention Lobby | 215 Rice St. Grand Junction, CO 81501 |
| Western Colorado Area Health Education Center | 2938 B North Ave. Grand Junction, CO 81504 |
| Lifespan Psychiatry of Colorado | 2140 N 12th St. Grand Junction, CO 81501 |
| HomewardBound of the Grand Valley- North Avenue Shelter | 2853 North Ave. Grand Junction, CO 81501 |
Give feedback about a kiosk
Take a short survey to help our team ensure these kiosks are well-stocked and serving the community in a meaningful way.
Substance use prevention and treatment
Contact Grand Valley Connects if you need help finding resources in Mesa County. Visit the Grand Valley Connects website or call 970-683-2663.
Services
Provides a safeguard against relapse, with the support and space needed to work toward building a life in recovery. Recovering substance users can reside in these sober living communities following treatment.
Amos Supportive Housing Association
1131 N 21st St.
970-778-4360
Homeward Bound of the Grand Valley
2853 North Ave.
970-256-9424
Oxford Houses
585 N 25th St.
307-221-3261
Foundary on the Front Range (transportation provided)
11952 Gray St. Broomfield, CO 80020
720-807-7867
Reduces the risks and harms for people who use substances.
Access Point
1001 Wellington Ave.
970-243-2437
Western Colorado Area Health Education Center
Naloxone Training Only
2938b North Ave.
970-434-5474
Offers peer-to-peer support with challenging choices. It helps reduce stigma.
Peer 180 Recovery Community Organization
201 South Avenue
970-644-5020
Mind Springs Health
515 28 ¾ Road
970-241-6023
Grand Valley Catholic Outreach – La Mariposa Women’s Recovery Program
245 S. 1st Street
970-241-3658
Canyon View Vineyard Church Life Steps
736 24 1/2 Road
720-854-4445
Celebrate Recovery Clifton Christian Church
3241 F 1/4 Road
970-434-7392
Treatment services that do not require a prolonged stay.
Grand Junction Metro Center
2956 North Avenue Unit 1
877-284-7074
Saint Mary’s Integrated Addiction Medicine
2698 Patterson Road Unit 42
970-298-3801
Front Range Clinic
2478 Patterson Road STE 18
866-523-2391
VA Hospital
2121 North Avenue
970-242-2824
Mind Springs Health
515 28 3/4 Road Bldg A
970-241-6023
Marillac Health
970-200-1600
marillachealth.org/behavioral-health
Amos Counseling
1131 N 21st Street
970-778-4360
Fentanyl Test Strips
What is fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug. It is about 100 times more potent than morphine.
What are fentanyl test strips?
Fentanyl test strips (FTS) are small strips of paper that can detect the presence of fentanyl in all different kinds and forms of drugs.
They are a low-cost method of helping prevent drug overdoses and reducing harm.
How do you use FTS?
- Put 5-10 mg of the sample into one teaspoon of room temperature water. Only handle the strip from the blue end that has the "FYL" label.
- Place the wavy end into the sample for 10 to 15 seconds (not above the max line).
- Let stand for 60 seconds.
- Read results.
How do you read the results?
Positive Results
- If held with your right hand, one colored line on the right-hand side means it is positive.
Negative Results
- Two colored lines mean the test is negative.
- Remember that no test is 100% accurate and your drugs may still contain fentanyl even if you receive a negative result.
- You should still use caution.
Invalid Results
- If there are no lines or the line on the right fails to appear, it is invalid.
- If you get an invalid result, test your drugs again using a new strip.
Opioid Prevention and Recovery Resources
Community Services Building (Public Health)
510 29 1/2 RoadGrand Junction, CO 81504