Public Health Office Plans Drug Prevention Program

SIGOURNEY – During the Jan. 29 meeting of the Keokuk County Board of Supervisors, the board met with Public Health Coordinator Jorie Altenhofen to discuss a new drug prevention program, paid for using money received from the National Opioid Settlement in 2022. Altenhofen proposed spending $3,249.94 of the settlement money to receive training in drug prevention from Botvin LifeSkills Training. After receiving training, Althofen will work with school nurses and guidance counselors to teach students good choices, how to control their emotions, and about the dangers of opioids and other drugs. Supervisors Micheal Hadley noted that the county has not used the settlement money yet and must use it for something or be forced to return it. The supervisors gave their support for this proposal, although they will not vote on it until next week.

Althofen also suggested using some of the settlement money to purchase Narcan, a drug used to prevent opioid overdoses, for the public health office to use. Althofen noted that Narcan is effective at stopping overdoses and does not have negative side effects when given to someone who is not overdosing. She brought up a story told to her by the Mahaska County Sheriff, who claimed that addicts purposefully overdose, knowing Narcan can be used to save them. Althofen noted that Keokuk County has a lower rate of 911 calls about overdoses than other nearby counties, but stated she was unsure if this was due to a lower overdose rate or due to overdosing people not calling 911.

Also at the Monday meeting, Supervisor Derek Wood brought up the free bus rides the county provides for veterans. Wood noted that this costs $81,000 each year and that the county may not be able to continue the bus rides without finding another funding source.