N. Hempstead To Hold Employee Narcan Training Seminar

The Town of North Hempstead is one of the first municipalities on Long Island that will offer free Narcan training for their employees.

Heroin is considered an epidemic on Long Island and in other parts of the country. At least 555 people on Long Island died from an opioid overdose in 2016, which is the highest number of fatal opioid overdoses reported in Nassau and Suffolk counties to date, according to North Hempstead.

The training session will teach employees how to use Narcan, the opioid reversal drug, on Friday, March 2 at Town Hall in Manhasset. The Town partnered with Northwell Health System’s Opioid Management Steering Committee to hold the seminar.

“I am very pleased that we are able to partner with Northwell to offer this valuable seminar,” Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said in a press release. “Many of our employees are on the front lines with the public, from our parks employees to our public safety officers and others, and educating them on how to use this anti-dote can save a life.”

About 75 Town employees will participate in the 90 minute training session. They will be educated on substance use, resources available for support and treatment of addiction, and a hands-on training in the use of a Naloxone rescue kit, which they will receive as part of the seminar.

“By heightening community awareness and equipping folks with the tools necessary to prevent fatal overdoses, we can start addressing this social and health care crisis, in collaboration with community partners like the Town of North Hempstead," said Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, Director of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment Program and the Naloxone Saturation Campaign at Northwell Health.

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