A group of current and former Ivy Tech students, faculty, and staff has created an opportunity to help save lives in the opioid crisis through the Naxos Neighbors app and are calling for the community to help make it better.
Naxos OD connects opioid overdose bystanders with those in the community who have naloxone through a smartphone application. This award-winning application can help save lives in real time.
What does the application do?
- ONE-BUTTON PUSH – IMMEDIATE HELP: When a call for help is made, the app searches for nearby trained responders carrying naloxone. A responder answers the call and is provided a map to quickly locate the person in need.
- CONNECTS TO A COMMUNITY: Members in the community can sign up to be responders. They are trained to use naloxone in an emergency situation and can determine when they want to be notified of nearby overdoses.
- ANONYMITY FOR OPIOID USERS: A person can make an anonymous request for naloxone from a neighbor responder. The responder can then notify 911. This allows the overdose victim to receive naloxone without the bystander fearing contact with law enforcement.
- HELPS FIRST RESPONDERS: Every minute lost can result in brain damage or death. Responders can support EMS by aiding in nearby overdose calls and shortening the time to start the lifesaving overdose reversal.
“2020 was an unprecedented year of disconnection, one that devastated those struggling with substance use disorder and resulted in the highest number of opioid overdose deaths the US has ever seen,” says Naxos Neighbors CEO, Joanne Cogdell. “After successfully reducing opioid overdose deaths in St. Joe County in 2019, 2020 became the counties deadliest overdose year with 83 people losing their lives. Research has shown that last year, approximately 38% of overdose deaths occurred with a bystander present who did not call 911. If this holds true for the county, that means 32 people lost their lives because the bystander didn’t feel safe requesting help.”
The Naxos Neighbors team invites community members to join them on June 30 at First United Methodist Church to help beta-test the smartphone application. Attendees will help identify benefits, pain points, and suggestions to improve the application.
*All local COVID guidelines will be enforced including mask wearing and social distancing. This is a limited guest event.
When? June 30, 2021 | 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Where? First United Methodist Church | 333 North Main Street South Bend, IN 46601
Want more info on Naxos Neighbors? Visit www.NaxosNeighbors.org
If you have questions, please contact Joanne Cogdell at naxosneighbors@gmail.com mailto:naxosneighbors@gmail.com
Register for the event here.
