Overdose Prevention and Response Training Scheduled

Western Pennsylvania has experienced an epidemic of heroin and opiate abuse in the past 8-10 years, with heroin killing about 100 people in the Alle-Kiski Valley Area (Armstrong, Westmoreland, Butler, and Allegheny Counties) last year.

But, a second training will be held later this month to prepare first-responders.

The Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission is hosting an Overdose Prevention and Response Training from 6-7:30PM on Monday, April 27, at St. Mary’s Parish Hall - located at 361 North Jefferson Street in Kittanning.

The presentation will be conducted by Alice Bell, L.C.S.W., Overdose Prevention Project Coordinator with Prevention Point Pittsburgh.

Pennsylvania now has the 7th highest drug overdose mortality rate in the United States, with over 3,000 deaths being opiate-related overdoses.

Drug overdose deaths in PA have now exceeded the number of deaths from automobile accidents.

In response to the public outcry for help with the opiate epidemic, the General Assembly passed Act 139 that became effective on November 29, 2014 that includes several critical components, such as a Good Samaritan provision which provides immunity from arrest for reporting an overdose, as well as allowing for greatly increased access to the overdose antidote medication, naloxone, also known as Narcan.

The Overdose Prevention Project provides training on Overdose Prevention and Response to individuals at risk of drug overdose, as well as to first responders, family members, housemates, and staff of agencies who work with individuals at risk and others, who might be present at the scene of an overdose and might be in a position to save someone’s life.

The purpose of this training will be to increase access to naloxone for individuals that may come in contact with persons with opiate-related substance use disorders in an effort to prevent overdose deaths. Naloxone is a safe, effective medication that can save a life by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose. Opioids are medicines for pain that include Vicodin, Codeine, OxyContin, Percocet, Opana, Methadone, and Fentanyl. Heroin is also an opioid.

As part of our efforts to support Act 139, the Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission is educating the community on the benefits of having access to the life-saving medication, naloxone, and how to administer it if needed.

For more information or to register please call 724-354-2746.

A training was held to help with the opiate epidemic in December in Plumcreek Township.