SENATOR AMEDORE TO HOST COMMUNITY NARCAN TRAINING

Senator George Amedore and Montgomery County Executive Matt Ossenfort will partner with Catholic Charities Care Coordination Services to host a free community narcan training on Tuesday, August 9th at 6 p.m., at Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Jr./Sr. High School, 44 Center Street in St. Johnsville.

A presentation on opiate overdose prevention and response will be given by representatives from Catholic Charities’ Project Safe Point program. Participants will learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of an overdose, understand the risk factors associated with overdose, and learn how to reverse the effects of an overdose with the drug naloxone (narcan). Trained attendees will be given a kit containing naloxone.

“We need to do everything we can to combat the heroin epidemic that is devastating our communities, including ensuring as many people as possible are trained and prepared to help if a family member, friend, or loved one is overdosing. A dose of narcan can be the difference between life and death for those who are battling a heroin or opiate addiction. I want to thank Catholic Charities Care Coordination Services for their continued efforts to prepare as many community members by partnering with us on these important community trainings,” said Senator George Amedore.

“I encourage residents to take advantage of this educational training because this is an epidemic that every community is facing and we, at the county, are trying to combat it on all fronts,” Montgomery County Executive Matthew L. Ossenfort said. “Not only does the use of opiates wreak havoc on the lives of those that use them, but it leads to loss of employment, an increase in homelessness, as well as a rise in our foster care caseload. Widespread training on the use of Narcan will not only save lives, but it is easily administered and highly effective in reducing costly emergency medical interventions. Having Senator Amedore and Catholic Charities partner with the county to provide this education for residents is putting a priority on the safety of our citizens, and I would like to personally thank them for that.”

The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to Senator Amedore’s office at (518) 853-3401 or amedore@nysenate.gov if you plan on attending.

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