In 2017, there were more than 500 reported opioid-related deaths on Long Island. In response, the Village of Farmingdale will be hosting two Naloxone training workshops offered by New York State on July 17 at Village Hall. The drug Naloxone, more commonly known by its brand name Narcan, is a “prescription medicine used for the treatment of an opioid emergency such as an overdose” according to its website.
Although he doesn’t expect this workshop to solve the opioid epidemic in the community, village trustee Dr. Walter Priestley said he hopes that it will expose community members to a possibly life-saving treatment option that can give people who overdose a second chance. According to the New York State Department of Health Opioid Annual Report for Nassau County, there were 529 reported incidents of Naloxone being used in 2017.
This workshop is intended not only for first responders, but for anyone that may be a witness to an overdose. By attending this free training session, community members can become part of the solution to the opioid crisis that has plagued not only Long Island, but the United States.
While Naloxone doesn’t treat the underlying causes of the opioid epidemic, advocates hope that its relatively high rates of success in reviving overdose patients—as opposed to traditional methods, including CPR—will provide recipients another chance to seek treatment for addiction.
The workshops in Farmingdale will be held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m., and anyone interested in attending can call Village Hall at 516-249-0093 for more information or to register.
