A week after the district’s Drug Free Community Forum filled every seat in the Rocky Point High School auditorium, more than 70 community members returned to the building to participate in a free Narcan training event offered by the school district.
Narcan, an inhalant used to reverse the symptoms of an opioid overdose, has become a subject of national media reports in recent years. The medicine is found to block the opioid receptors in the brain and potentially provide time for emergency responders to save the life of the overdosing individual.
During the event, representatives from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services’ Division of Emergency Medical Services spoke about how Narcan works medically and instructed the audience on how to properly administer the treatment. They explained that overdoses are not limited to just those who experiment with opioids, but rather can happen to anyone – including the elderly who mistakenly take a double dose of a prescription or even a young child who gets access to the drug through a medicine cabinet at home. Attendees were also informed of New York State’s Good Samaritan Law, which provides protection from charge and prosecution for drug and alcohol possession for the victim and those who seek help during an overdose.
Upon completing the training program, each individual received an overdose prevention kit containing two prefilled Narcan devices and a card certifying them as trained to administer the substance.
“There is no substitute for calling 911, but through this valuable program, more than 70 individuals from our community are now equipped to save the life of someone experiencing an overdose,” said Amy Agnesini, program coordinator and district director for health, physical education, intramurals and athletics. “They are now considered members of the first responder team, and that is a very commendable act.”