FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 30, 2018
MEDIA CONTACTS: Carole Trottere, Rebecca Cheng, Sam Marksheid, and Vicki DiStefano | (516) 869-7794
North Hempstead Partners with Northwell for Town Employee Narcan Training
North Hempstead, NY – North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board are pleased to announce that the Town is partnering with Northwell Health System’s Opioid Management Steering Committee to hold a free opioid overdose prevention training session for Town employees on March 2 at Town Hall in Manhasset. The Town is one of the first municipalities on Long Island to offer a free Narcan training for employees.
In 2016, at least 555 people on Long Island died from opioid overdoses, the highest number of deaths by opioid overdoses recorded in Suffolk and Nassau County yet. Fentanyl, a potent painkiller, was involved in at least 275 of these overdose deaths. The drug, which has caused deaths in record numbers nationally, is sometimes mixed with heroin and experts say is 50 times stronger than heroin alone.
“I am very pleased that we are able to partner with Northwell to offer this valuable seminar,” said Supervisor Bosworth. “Many of our employees are on the front lines with the public, from our parks employees to our public safety officers and others, and educating them on how to use this anti-dote can save a life.”
“We are dealing with a crisis that requires a collaborative approach beyond the four walls of any hospital or health system” said Dr Sandeep Kapoor, Director of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment Program (SBIRT) and the Naloxone Saturation Campaign (NAL-SAT) at Northwell Health. “At Northwell, we are standing up a comprehensive, system-level framework to support our patients and communities. However, we cannot do this alone. By heightening community awareness and equipping folks with the tools necessary to prevent fatal overdoses, we can start addressing this social and health care crisis, in collaboration with community partners like the Town of North Hempstead.”
Naloxone (Narcan) is used to block the effects of opioids, critical in an overdose situation. Northwell will hold a 90 minute training session for 75 Town employees that will include education on substance use, resources available for support and treatment of addiction, and a hands-on training in the use of a Naloxone rescue kit. All participants will receive a rescue kit.