Video: Judge Longo Offering Free Narcan at Ferndale Courthouse
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 18, 2022)
Ferndale, MI – Judge Joseph Longo, head Judge of the 43rd District Court in Ferndale, has seen an ever-increasing number of people in his courtroom on cases related to opioid addiction. That’s why he and his staff are doing something rare in community courthouses – offering free Narcan (naloxone) to anyone who wants it, no questions asked.
Working with Familes Against Narcotics to acquire the life-saving medicine, Longo hopes that people who have drug problems and those who know people that do will feel comfortable asking for it at the desk. It doesn’t matter what city the person is from, or why they are there. It’s for anyone to take and have in case they might be in a position to save a life.
Narcan is the brand name for naloxone, a nasal spray that stops the effects of opioids with a simple spray up the nose. The person experiencing the overdose wakes up because it stops the drug from working. Narcan can stop an overdose, but it won’t have adverse effects on someone who is experiencing a different medical emergency. So there is no risk in giving it to someone who is passed out if one is unsure of the cause.
Judge Longo spoke with Oakland County Times about the medicine and why he wants to help, citing 2,200 opioid deaths in Michigan last year.
“We’re trying to get Narcan into the hands of people who may be able to help save other people’s lives,” he said. “Being a judge I see the ancillary part of that addiction. And it’s hard for families to say, well I’m not going to be somebody who enables this person to use drugs so I’m not going to be involved. Well, you can’t fix somebody that’s dead. That’s the simplest answer I can give you. I’m doing this to give us, and I mean all of society, a chance to help people before they die.”
Free Narcan is also available at many local police stations. Those unable to get to Ferndale are encouraged to check with their local police department or the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office for info on where else to obtain it. Longo also mentioned the Hope Not Handcuffs Program, also through Families Against Narcotics, which works with local police departments to help people get treatment while avoiding the criminal justice system.
Visit the 43rd District Court at 305 E. Nine Mile in Downtown Ferndale, or call the courthouse at 248-547-8700 for more information.
