For the first time, 165 first-year med students received a training session to address the state’s opioid epidemic where they learned the principles of harm reduction and to use Narcan, also known as naloxone, to reverse an opioid overdose. The students also each received their own Narcan kit, equipping them to possibly save someone from an overdose.

“We learned how serious the opioid crisis is. It is an epidemic in this country. To tackle the crisis, we need Narcan to be available over the counter and we need more people trained,” said Daniel Hughes, a first-year medical student who took part in the course. “It’s good that the UofL School of Medicine is trying to get as many people as possible trained early on.”

According to the , 2,250 Kentuckians died from drug overdoses in 2021, a 14.5% increase over 2020, which saw a 49% increase over 2019. An opioid was involved in 90% of overdose deaths.

The 90-minute mandatory session informed the students how to respond if they encounter someone experiencing an overdose. Instructors James Patrick Murphy, a clinical professor at UofL and board member of the (KyHRC), and Christopher Stewart, associate professor in the UofL Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, also outlined the rationale and evidence for harm reduction according to the .

“Harm reduction is care that meets people who use drugs ‘where they are,’ on their own terms, keeping them alive and as healthy as possible by decreasing overdoses, preventing life-threatening infections and reducing the impact of diseases such as HIV and hepatitis,” Murphy said. “Harm reduction also serves as a proven pathway to additional prevention, treatment and recovery. Simply put, harm reduction is humble and compassionate care that saves lives.”

The students were shown how to use Narcan to reverse an opioid overdose and given a Narcan kit, provided by the KyHRC and valued at $100 each.

Susan Sawning, a professor in UofL’s office of medical education, was instrumental in creating the course and obtaining the Narcan kits for the students. For her, the need is personal.

“I have lost multiple people in my life to overdose,” Sawning said. “I wish their families, friends and medical professionals had had the knowledge about harm reduction our students learned through this training.”

The documentary looks at the “silver lining” of the crisis — a record-high uptick of organs available for donation. 

“I didn’t know she wanted to be a donor. I was so glad. I was so proud of her,” the patient’s mom, Jane Tyler, said in the documentary. “The hospital fought so hard to save her life. It just wasn’t meant to be.” 

Jane’s daughter Kristen was 38 when she died of an overdose in Louisville. 

When an overdose victim has chosen to be an organ donor, medical personnel have to work quickly to preserve the health of the organs. If they’re suitable, the local organ procurement organization steps in to locate recipients. In some cases, organs are compromised but still viable.

Dr. Glen Franklin, with the UofL School of Medicine and medical director of the Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates, said the opioid epidemic in Kentucky started to hit about three to four years ago, and emergency rooms in the region experienced a 500-to-600-percent increase in patients. 

Like many opioid victims, Kristen’s organs were compromised, but the staff at UofL Hospital was able to allocate her liver and kidneys.

Dr. Christopher Jones, director of the Transplant Center at UofL, said recipients are often concerned about whether they will become a drug addict if they take a deceased patient’s organs, but that is not the case. 

“If a high risk organ becomes available for me, say a kidney, and I’ve been going to dialysis for however many years, three times a week for four hours a day, you better believe I’m taking that organ,” Jones said. 

Because there is now a cure for Hepatitis C, most programs are using these organs without hesitancy. Five years ago, that wasn’t the case. 

Sharon Minor was the recipient of Kristen Tyler’s kidney. The transplant took place in Virginia. 

“If I could speak to the family that was the donor, I would just give them a big hug. There are no words to express how I feel,” she said. “I’m grateful to be alive.”

Check out the footage from the documentary, including from UofL Hospital: