WURTSBORO – August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day and the Mamakating First Aid Squad (MFAS) is marking the date by holding a free Narcan training event for the community.
The training is taking place at the ambulance station at 68 Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on August 31. Registration can be made by calling 845-888-2544 or emailing MFAS39@yahoo.com.
Jeff Ashdown, a certified Narcan instructor for MFAS, said that Narcan training is not only effective on people that overdose on illegal drugs because accidental overdoses on prescription drugs also occur. “If an elderly person with dementia accidentally overdoses on prescription morphine, Narcan could save their life, if administered quickly,” said Ashdown. Mostly known for opioid overdoses, he noted that “People make mistakes and deserve a second chance,” adding “This training might save the life of someone who made a bad decision at a moment in time and Narcan can help.”
International Overdose Awareness Day, started in 2001 and is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died, and acknowledge the grief of the family and friends left behind. The campaign raises awareness of overdose, which is one of the world’s worst public health crises and stimulates action and discussion about evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy.
