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Friday, May 29, 2026A Section To Your HealthFREEDiabetesEDUCATION CLASSESJUNE 2026Lawrence Library7898 Hague Rd., 46256Tuesdays 9, 16, 23, 305:30 - 7:30 p.m.Please plan to attend all four classes.marionhealth.org/diabetes %u2022 317-221-2094By HANNA RAUWORTHhannar@indyrecorder.comIndiana University and the Marion County Public Health Department are expanding access to free naloxone training in an effort to strengthen overdose prevention efforts across Central Indiana.The Citizen Opioid Responders (COR) program, developed through Indiana University%u2019s Prevention Insights, is a free online training course designed to teach community members how to recognize an opioid overdose and administer naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan. Marion County residents and workers who complete the training can receive naloxone at no cost from the Marion County Public Health Department by presenting their certificate of completion.Cris Henderson, director of the Citizen Opioid Responders Online Naloxone Training Program at IU, said the expansion was driven by growing community interest and the need for greater access to overdose prevention resources.%u201cIt%u2019s really been a goal of ours to be able to expand the program,%u201d Henderson said. %u201cWhat I was able to find out in that year one is that there was a great deal of interest in the program, not only on campus, but off campus.%u201dWith funding support from the Indiana University Foundation, the program initially expanded to five IU campuses before later growing to all nine IU campuses and surrounding communities.Henderson said the second year of funding also allowed IU to install two NaloxBox units on each campus to increase access to naloxone in hightraffic areas.%u201cSo, we%u2019re increasing education and we%u2019re also increasing access,%u201d Henderson said.The COR training was originally developed in 2020 and later tested in a randomized control trial in Indiana in 2021. Henderson said the goal was to create a program accessible to people without medical training or emergency response backgrounds.%u201cWe want to normalize this just like we%u2019ve normalized CPR and first aid training,%u201d Henderson said. %u201cThe key to this is really thinking about increasing awareness and engagement in normalizing, destigmatizing access to naloxone and training.%u201dThe self-paced online training takes about 20-30 minutes to complete and is available 24 hours a day on any device. Participants complete eight interactive modules featuring knowledge checks and adult learning techniques designed to reinforce information retention and build confidence.%u201cWe want people to feel more ready, willing and able to intervene,%u201d Henderson said. %u201cAnd we have data that shows that people that complete this training do report that they feel more ready, willing, and able to intervene and more likely to carry naloxone as a result of completing the training.%u201dAccording to Henderson, recent research highlights the need for broader overdose prevention education among young adults. They referenced a 2024 study that surveyed more than 7,000 college students and found that one in three knew someone who had overdosed, while only one in seven knew how to administer naloxone.%u201cThat study really highlights a need for us to be thinking about how we engage more people in overdose prevention, particularly college students,%u201d Henderson said.While opioid overdoses are often associated with substance use disorder, Henderson emphasized that accidental overdoses can affect anyone.%u201cAccidental overdoses can happen anywhere,%u201d Henderson said. %u201cThey can happen in our homes because a senior takes too much medication. Children get into medicine cabinets. College students take something at a party that they think is safe, but it%u2019s laced with fentanyl.%u201dThe Marion County Public Health Department is partnering with IU to help distribute naloxone and encourage residents to complete the training.%u201cNaloxone is not just for first responders,%u201d Dr. Virginia A. Caine, director and chief medical officer of the Marion County Public Health Department, said in a statement. %u201cAnyone who is at risk or who knows someone at risk for an opioid overdose can be trained on how to give naloxone, similar to learning CPR or first aid.%u201dThe COR program is currently active in 11 Indiana counties and has prepared more than 1,500 Hoosiers to respond to overdose emergencies over the past 20 months.Henderson said one of the program%u2019s biggest advantages is its accessibility and convenience for participants who may feel uncertain or uncomfortable discussing overdose prevention.%u201cWe%u2019ve done a lot of work here to make it as friendly and easy as it can be to engage more learners,%u201d Henderson said. %u201cWe hope more people will take the training and share that with other folks and their friends and family and community members as possible.%u201dCommunity members can learn more or enroll in the free training at go.iu.edu/stopoverdose.This reporting is made possible by a grant from the Indianapolis AfricanAmerican Quality of Life Initiative, empowering our community with essential health insights.%u00a0https://iaaqli.org/Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.IU, Marion County expand free naloxone training to prepare more overdose respondersNaloxBoxes provide public access to the overdosereversal medication naloxone, which can be used to help restore breathing during an opioid overdose emergency. (Photo/IU Health)ABCs of Diabetes Classes in June The ABCs of Diabetes is a free, four-part diabetes selfmanagement program offered monthly by the Marion County Public Health Department. Classes include information about diet, medications, exercise, monitoring, and long-term management. Participants also receive a consultation with a registered dietitian, registered nurse, and a health educator. Sessions in June will be held at the Lawrence Branch Library, 7898 Hague Rd., on Tuesdays, June 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 5:30%u20137:30 p.m. Registration is free and participants are asked to attend all four classes. Anyone interested is asked to visit MarionHealth.org/diabetes or call 317-221-2094 to register or to learn more about the program and upcoming classes. More than 2 in 5 adults have prediabetes in the United States. About 8 in 10 people with prediabetes don%u2019t know they have it. Both can be prevented with lifestyle changes, such as losing weight if needed, eating a healthy diet, and regular physical activity. The ABCs of Diabetes is accredited by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists.Indianapolis EMS recognized for its critical care Indianapolis Emergency Medical Service, or IEMS, recently joined the National Association of EMTs to celebrate Emergency Medical Services Week. IEMS invites the entire community to recognize the more than 300 men and women who work on the frontlines of public safety and health care in Marion County. In 2025, IEMS responded to nearly 146,000 calls for service as a critical fi rst responder in public safety. National EMS Week takes time out to highlight the tremendous service and sacrifi ce given by EMS personnel committed to providing world class pre-hospital care to residents. In addition to thanking IEMS providers at hospitals across Marion County, the week highlighted its critical work relating to education, children, provider and public safety, and citizen training. So far in 2026, IEMS responded to more than 49,000 calls to service, delivered four babies and traveled more than 724,000 miles in Marion County. IEMS also provides medical coverage for more than 500 special events in the area, including the recent Indianapolis 500. It also provides mobile integrated health services to address social needs and reduce overuse of the 911 system, partners with local public health and safety organizations to make sure the right resources are sent during mental health responses. Ahead of EMS Week, Indianapolis EMS celebrated a very successful night at the annual Indiana Emergency Medical Services Association Golden Siren banquet on May 16. Three IEMS providers were recognized:%u2022 Anthony Garcia %u2013 Paramedic of the Year%u2022 Tom Arkins %u2013 Legislative Advocate of the Year%u2022 Charles Ford %u2013 Golden Siren inductee, recognizing 25 years of service and leadership %u201cWe have a world-class EMS system in Indianapolis with world-class providers on our team,%u201d said Dan O%u2019Donnell M.D., chief of IEMS. %u201cThe men and women of Indianapolis EMS show up each and every day to serve the residents of Marion County, often under very diffi cult and stressful situations, and it%u2019s an honor to lead them. I encourage everyone to join with us in gratitude for the tremendous work they are doing.%u201d Indianapolis IEMS academic services trains more than 100 new EMTs and paramedics annually. More information about events and career opportunities with IEMS is available at IndianapolisEMS.org. IEMS is a division of Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County.