Saving Lives Through Narcan Training

As the number of opioid overdoses continues to rise, so does the number of people who are trained in administering Narcan, the opiate overdose antidote. Nassau County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton has been sponsoring Narcan training sessions for several years within her district.

These Narcan training sessions, not only equip residents with opiate overdose antidote kits, but also, and just as importantly, discuss the road to addiction and warning signs. A great deal of addicts start with prescription painkillers for an injury or after surgery, not knowing that two weeks of prescribed dosage is all it can take to become addicted to these powerful drugs. Any medication that ends in “odone” is an opiate and is just as addictive as heroin.

“Last year, I proposed legislation requiring that all pharmacies in Nassau County prominently post signage alerting customers waiting on line for prescriptions about how easily addictive opioids can be,” Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton said. “I am hopeful that our Legislative Majority will soon call this important legislation for review and approval.”

Nearly 150 people attended a March 5 Narcan meeting at Congregation Tifereth Israel in Glen Cove. Members of Glen Cove’s Auxiliary Police, EMS and SAFE (Substance Abuse Free Environment) attended the meeting to show their support for this life-saving training. Delia wishes to thank Rabbi Huberman and Congregation Tifereth Israel for hosting this event and helping to spread the word to increase attendance.

For information about Narcan, including learning where upcoming Nassau County training sessions are scheduled, contact Legislator DeRiggi-Whitton’s office at 516-571-6211 or visit nassaucountyny.gov/overdosetraining.

Photo caption:

Members of Glen Cove’s Auxiliary Police with Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (center), Nassau County Police Medic Association President Michael Seltzer (to Delia’s left), and Nassau County Narcan trainer David Hymowitz (to Delia’s right)