Chris Lukes’ Austin support group “Circle of Hope,” listens to and comforts those who have a loved one struggling with addiction.

Last year, she organized “Wake Up Austin,” a three-part series of community forums that raised awareness about the dangers and impact of drug use.

Combined with being a busy parent and holding down a job, she found herself wondering if she shouldn’t cut back on some of the activities.

But a frantic call in the middle of the night from a friend whose child had overdosed on heroin brought her up short — and pushed her to bring a training to Austin for the administration of naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcon.

“I knew I had to do something; I have had addiction in my family, too,” she said.

She also knew the use of opioids, including prescription painkillers such as oxycodone, and use of heroin and fentanyl, were deadly — and on the rise in epidemic proportions.

“I have had three in my support group who have lost family members to overdoses,” she said.

Due to her efforts, 24 registrants gathered at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in September to learn how to administer naloxone, a drug that can counteract the effects of an opioid overdose within minutes.

Providing the training was the Steve Rummler Hope Network, which offers an overdose prevention program that grew out of the need for implementation of Steve’s Law (also known as the Minnesota Good Samaritan/Naloxone legislation), which passed unanimously through both houses of the Legislature in 2014. The network also provided injection kits at a low cost.

Steve’s Law provides limited immunity to those who call 911 in good faith to save a life and allows first responders, law enforcement and trained lay people to administer naloxone.

The Hope Network was established by the family of the law’s namesake, Steve Rummler, who died of an accidental opioid overdose in 2011. Rummler became addicted to painkillers following treatment for a back injury that kept him in constant pain.

“All they (Hope Network) want to do is save lives,” Lukes said. “But the training is key.”

Naloxone, Lukes said, is given by injection — by a needle or an auto-injection device — and can be given to young children (not infants) up through the elderly. The drug will not adversely affect the recipient if it is mistakenly given and they have not overdosed on opioids. Although rare, it can cause an allergic reaction.

It does not, however, take the place of  contacting emergency personnel when someone is suspected of having taken an overdose.

Naloxone helps stimulate the breathing of an individual, whose opioid over-sedation can result in the user’s breathing to slow or stop.

The Centers for Disease Control reported that in 2015 — the year of its most recent data — opioids killed more than 33,000 people in the U.S., more than any year on record. Nearly half of all opioid overdose deaths involved a prescription drug. The CDC estimates that 91 Americans die every day from opioid overdose.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, 572 state deaths were attributed opioid overdoses in 2015. Of that number, white males between the ages of 45-54 made up the largest number segment, at 411.

However, the dangers of drug addiction “isn’t always about drug users,” Lukes said.

There have been cases of law enforcement officers or deputies who have overdosed when coming into contact with drugs such as fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid that just through touch can affect, or even kill, those handling it. There have been reports of law enforcement unknowingly getting the drug on their hands, or being affected by brushing a few grains of the drug off their clothes after conducting a drug search. Some exposed have fallen into an overdose state and naloxone was used to revive them.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in June issued warnings to law enforcement and first responders that they need to be trained to use protective clothing and to always carry naloxone. Officials have also cautioned that K-9 dogs, often used in drug searches, could be at similar risk.

Local law enforcement carries it in a limited fashion. Having  it stored in squad cars exposes it to temperature changes which can affect the naloxone, said Police Chief Brian Krueger.

However, in such cases, paramedics are often on scene as quickly, if not more quickly, than officers. Paramedics always carry the antidote, as do members of the drug task force that is on the scene of drug investigations.

Lukes said if others in the community would like a repeat training in naloxone could be scheduled in the future. For more information on the trainings, call Lukes at 507-438-2034.

For more on the Steve Rummler Hope Network, go to: http://steverummlerhopenetwork.org.