March 14, 2016
Featured on: WRGB Albany 6 News
Link to full coverage can be found here: http://cbs6albany.com/news/local/overdose-drug-narcan-training-in-saratoga-springs
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A one-hour training session on how to use a drug that reverses an opioid or heroin overdose will be offered for the first time in Saratoga County Monday afternoon.
The Saratoga Springs Prevention Council, along with Catholic Charities are putting on the session. The hope is to get the general public involved in the fight against heroin by training them to administer Narcan.
New York is one of a handful of states where more people die every year from a drug overdose, than from car accidents. The number of deaths in the U.S. from heroin increased 6-fold from 2001 to 2014 according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse.
The makers of the reversal drug Narcan say it works within five minutes of administration. The drug knocks out those opiate or heroin receptors in the brain and can help a person start breathing normally again. The drug is given by nasal spray and within the last month independent pharmacies across the state are now allowed to hand out the drug. Both medical and non-medical persons can administer the drug.
“As opioids continue to be used in our county and throughout the country and there are more frequent overdoses than we’ve experienced before it’s important to have this training available and to have people in the community ready to respond,” Prevention Council Executive Director Janine Stuchin said.
The free session will be held at the Saratoga Springs Public Library from 3-4 p.m.
In addition to the March 14 training, other upcoming training dates are April 11 in Mechanicville; April 25 in Moreau, May 9 in Schuylerville, May 23 in Saratoga Springs, June 13 in South Glens Falls, June 27 in Vischer Ferry, July 13 in Hadley, July 25 in Charlton, Aug. 8 in Galway; Aug. 22 in Wilton, Sept. 12 in Clifton Park, Sept. 26 in Stillwater, Oct. 10 in Waterford, Oct. 24 in Malta, Nov. 14 in Wilton, and Dec. 12 in Ballston Spa. All sessions are from 6-7 p.m.
Details on locations and registration are available from the Prevention Council in Saratoga Springs, 581-1230, or on its website.