- Northampton County, via its 'Fake is Real' campaign, handed out naloxone kits Thursday to the public
- Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, is a nasal spray that can reverse an opioid overdose. This campaign is targeted at fentanyl use
- According to the CDC, the Lehigh Valley is 40% above the national average in opioid overdoses
BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. — Northampton County , through its "Fake is Real" fentanyl awareness campaign, set up Thursday with 300 naloxone kits, free for the public to take home.
By the time the event outside the Human Services Department Building on Emrick Boulevard started at 4 p.m., more than 20 people had already shown up — some taking two or three kits each.
The campaign is funded through the county's share of Pennsylvania's opioid settlement money.
It is targeted at hidden, deadly doses of fentanyl in street drugs, including counterfeit pharmaceuticals such as Xanax or Adderall — popular anti-stress and study drugs, respectively.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, counterfeits of pharmaceuticals often contain fentanyl.
"It's scary," Karen Brady said, speaking of the prevalence of opioid overdoses. "I have a young granddaughter, as well, so yes, I do worry about it."
Brady is a former volunteer EMT, who picked up three Naloxone kits today, just to have in case she is around someone who is experiencing an overdose.
"I also work at the community college part-time as an instructor, very active in my church, very active in Lions International, and I travel the entire state of Pennsylvania," she said.
"So I'm around people all the time, and you just never know."
In 2023, 5,212 Pennsylvanians died from Opioid overdoses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and the agency said that statistic likely is deflated due to under-reporting.
Spread over a year, that equates to 14 a day. Citing similar CDC data, the Fake is Real campaign website states that the Lehigh Valley is 40% above the national average in opioid-related deaths.
Naloxone
Naloxone, under the brand name Narcan, is the drug that was being given out to the public on Thursday. It's a nasal spray that can reverse symptoms of an overdose, and potentially save lives.
Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure was at the naloxone giveaway event. Some people got out of their cars to shake his hand and thank him for the initiative.
He said the 300 naloxone kits (containing two vials each) were given to the county by the state government, which bought them from the manufacturer.
Narcan is made by pharmaceutical company Emergent BioSolutions, which has a distribution plant located in Plymouth Meeting, Bucks County.
"Just because a manufacturer of a pharmaceutical is finding some remuneration somewhere along this supply chain, doesn't mean we should let these people be exposed to fentanyl and then not have the ability to save their life with Narcan."Lamont McClure, Northampton County Executive
This year alone, Emergent BioSolutions has spent $1,620,000 on lobbying. Since 2005, it has spent more than$40 million.
In a 2019 address to shareholders, the company billed itself as a "dependable, reliable partner to the government," and in the same presentation, touted "extensive relationships" with the government as being partially responsible for their financial success.
'My answer is this: I don't care'
McClure said he wasn't aware of Emergent's government lobbying history, and said he believes it may not be relevant.
"My answer is this: If I don't care," he said. "If it's going to save lives of teenagers in my county, I don't care who they lobby or who they give money to. And our citizens are getting it, at least at the county level for free. So if I can save a 19-year-old life this weekend because we had this redistribution, I'll be glad to do it, irrespective of potentially unsavory activities of the people who manufacture this stuff."
McClure added: "As many citizens as we can get Narcan in the hands of, we can prevent these unnecessary deaths because they have the Narcan available to them in their home.
"And just because a manufacturer of a pharmaceutical is finding some remuneration somewhere along this supply chain, doesn't mean we should let these people be exposed to fentanyl and then not have the ability to save their life with Narcan."
Shortly after this interaction, McClure shook hands with a man who came to pick up a Naloxone kit. The man said, "Your job is really hard," which evoked a chuckle. The man followed up with "Now sometimes I do hate you, but I appreciate you," which got an even bigger laugh from McClure.
McClure responded: "I love my job," and added, "Thank you, I appreciate you saying that, because I do hear the other stuff too."
'He saved his life'
The man who had the exchange with McClure was Todd Spararra, a former paramedic in the U.S. Air Force. He was picking up naloxone kits after he says he witnessed one being used in a dramatic way in Bethlehem.
"There was a gentleman that passed out in Bethlehem at my intersection," he said. "And supposedly, he was driving, and he was actually unconscious in the car. So we immediately told the cop, and the police officers to bring Narcan, and as soon as he administered Narcan, the gentleman came-to, and punched the cop in the face. And he saved his life."
For as much ribbing as he did to McClure just moments earlier, Spararra said he was grateful for him and the Naloxone initiative.
"I really like that Northampton County is doing this, and being proactive," he said. "And I appreciate their work because I want it for my med kit, just in case."
