Rockland Partners With Refuah Health Care Center For Free Narcan Training

ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. -- In its ongoing battle against opioid abuse and prevent deaths, Rockland County will hold a Narcan training session for the public in partnership with Refuah, a health care center that specializes in outreach to the Jewish community.

A Narcan kit contains the drugs, syringes, and gloves.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Kathy Reakes

06/19/2017 7:00 a.m.

The free training will be held at 7:30 p.m., Monday, June 19 at Refuah's offices at 400 Rella Blvd., Suite 205, Suffern. It is open to everyone.

"Opioid addiction knows no barriers," County Executive Ed Day said. "It affects all communities."

Participants will be taught how to use Narcan, a nasal spray, and given a rescue kit.

Narcan, also known by its generic name, naloxone, is an opiate antidote that can reverse the effects of opioids, including heroin and prescription pain pills.

Additional Narcan training sessions are also being planned, including one for the Spanish-speaking community.

In 2015, there were 31 drug-related deaths, according to the Rockland County Medical Examiner. Most of them – 25 – were opioid-related.

In 2016, there were 40 drug-related deaths. Almost all – 37 – were opioid-related.

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