Heroin OD Antidote Training Draws Big Crowd

A Naloxone training session at the New City Public Library on Monday drew a large crowd of concerned citizens.

“We are here to be prepared to help our community in any way we can,” said Mark Fries, a member of the Clarkstown Auxiliary Police Department. “This is a great opportunity to learn and broaden our horizons.”

Naloxone is a lifesaving antidote that can be used on an individual who is experiencing an opioid overdose.

The session was hosted by Senator David Carlucci (D – Rockland/Westchester), in partnership with the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.

Members of the Clarkstown Auxiliary Police, local school nurses, healthcare providers and concerned members of the community attended the training, where more than 60 people were taught how to administer Naloxone.

“We are here to educate ourselves to better serve the students at the high school,” said Margaret Varieur, a Nurse at Clarkstown North High School. “We hope we never have to use this training, but it’s good to be prepared.”

Through the efforts of OASAS and other agencies, over 55,000 people have been trained statewide, and more than 1,500 lives have been saved.

“We are facing the worst drug epidemic in U.S. history,” said Ruth Bowles, Executive Director of Rockland Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependence, Inc. “We are seeing a horrific number of deaths, already 19 in Rockland County this year. We need to educate people on what they can do to save lives. Senator Carucci has been on the frontlines of this heroin epidemic, and we appreciate all of his efforts.”

Carlucci will host another Naloxone training on Aug. 5 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., at the Ossining Public Library, at 53 Croton Avenue, in Ossining, NY. The event is free and open to the public. To RSVP, please call (914) 941-2041.

“Through these trainings, we have come together as a community to address an epidemic that has affected our friends, neighbors, and families,” said Carlucci in a prepared statement. “It is my hope that through our efforts to make Naloxone more affordable and accessible, we can save as many lives as possible.”

PHOTO/contributed