Catholic Charities Hosts Free Narcan Training for Community Members

Thursday, June 28, 6:00 pm, 305 North Street, Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, NY – Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster will host a free Narcan training for community members on Thursday, June 28 at 6:00 pm. The training will be held at Catholic Charities’ Middletown Clinic, located at 305 North Street, Middletown. The Narcan training is available at no cost and is recommended for parents, other loved ones, and anyone closely associated with an individual suffering with a heroin/prescription opioid addiction.

Space is limited for the free training program and pre-registration is required. To register, call Sally Milosevic at 845.294.5124, ext. 320.

Narcan, also known as naloxone, is an anti-overdose medication that inhibits the effect of a heroin/opioid overdose. It can be administered via injection or nasal spray by a lay person who has received training to carry a Narcan prescription.

“In most cases, Narcan is administered by a trained first responder or medical professional. Thankfully, it can also be administered, with life-saving results, by a trained lay person, such as a parent, sibling, or significant other,” said Sue Corbett, RN, Narcan Trainer for Catholic Charities.
“I encourage anyone who has a loved one addicted to opioids to receive Narcan training and equip themselves with the skills and supplies necessary should the need arise. Lives can be saved,” added Corbett.

Narcan training takes approximately two hours and is available to individuals 16 years or older. It is legal for a person who has been properly trained and prescribed to carry and administer Narcan. Those who do administer it to an individual believed to be suffering from an overdose are protected under the Good Samaritan Law.

“For more than 40 years, Catholic Charities has been providing recovery assistance to those suffering from the disease of addiction,” said Dr. Dean Scher, CEO, Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster. “While our goal is to have them seek professional assistance along their journey to recovery, until they do, concerned loved ones can receive Narcan training and hopefully offer a second chance.”

Catholic Charities operates chemical dependency clinics in Orange and Sullivan Counties and has recently expanded community-based outreach into Ulster County. Treatment and recovery services are provided to those in need independent of religion or ability to pay. For clinic location information, contact 845.294.5888 or visit www.cccsos.org.

Additional Narcan trainings will be held throughout the year and will be announced as training dates and locations are confirmed. To be added to a training list, contact Sally Milosevic at Catholic Charities.

FAST FACTS

WHO:              Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster
WHAT:             FREE Narcan training for community members
WHEN:             Thursday, June 28, 6:00 pm
WHERE:           Catholic Charities Middletown Clinic, 305 North Street, Middletown
RSVP:               Registration required
RSVP by calling 845.294.5124, ext. 320