Salem Narcan Trainings Set Ahead Of Halloween Tourist Season

SALEM, MA — Salem business owners, their employees and residents are invited to take part in one of two Narcan training sessions ahead of the Halloween tourist season in the city that could help save a life in the case of an overdose.

The Salem Board of Health is running the training in conjunction with Health Streets Outreach Program.

"We are excited to partner with Healthy Streets to offer this training for the fifth and sixth time in the last year," Salem Health Agent David Greenbaum said. "We believe that it is important that we offer the public the tools to recognize the signs of overdose and the resources to treat an overdose should they be in the situation to do so.

"As Salem heads into our busiest tourist season, we want to stay especially vigilant in the fight against opioids."

There will be two training sessions on Thursday in the large conference room in the City Hall Annex at 98 Washington Street with the first session at noon and the second at 6 p.m. During the training, attendees will be taught to recognize the signs of an overdose, how to administer Narcan should they need to, and what to do once they administer Narcan.

"Narcan can help save lives and the more members of our community who are able to administer it in a crisis, the safer our city will be," Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo said. "I hope all who are able will take advantage of this important opportunity.”

According to the Salem Health Department, an average of 277 people died each year in Essex County from opioid-related overdoses from 2017 through 2021.

Narcan is considered a very effective medication for those suffering an overdose. It is considered safe, easy to administer, and has no potential for misuse.

When used by emergency medical personnel, law enforcement, and others likely to witness an overdose, it has been shown to reduce overdose deaths in a community by as much as 11 percent.

This training is geared towards Salem businesses but is open to anyone who wishes to attend.

Narcan will be available for distribution to attendees.

Anyone with questions can call the Salem Board of Health at 978-741-1800.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)