The Great Neck Public Schools will be hosting an overdose prevention seminar and naloxone – or Narcan – training on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017.
The seminar will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the William A. Shine Great Neck South High School, located at 341 Lakeville Road in Great Neck. The event is open to all faculty, staff, and residents.
This free training is co-sponsored by the non-profit agency COPAY (Community Organization for Parents And Youth, Inc.) of Great Neck, the Nassau County Department of Human Services, Office of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency, and Developmental Disability Services.
The seminar will review the warning signs of drug use, how to recognize an overdose, and how to administer Narcan. Local agencies will also be on hand to provide information about treatment programs and recovery options in Nassau County.
Great Neck Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Teresa Prendergast encourages GNPS faculty, staff, and residents to take advantage of this free program.
“Opioid abuse is a national epidemic and no community is immune to the devastating effects of addiction,” Prendergast said. “This is an opportunity for all of us to learn strategies to combat drug abuse and possibly even save a life.”
In addition to the district’s ongoing efforts to educate students and staff about opioid addiction, members of several local organizations have also expressed interest in receiving Narcan training. The school said it hopes to help facilitate this seminar to educate the greater community in its cooperative effort to fight drug abuse and prevent overdoses.
The training is open to residents and all GNPS staff, but seating is limited. Participants must pre-register on the Nassau County website at www.nassaucountyny.gov/overdosetraining.
A 2006 New York State law allows ordinary citizens to administer Narcan in an attempt to save a life, without fear of liability. Narcan is administered through a nasal spray and is provided at no charge to trainees over the age of 18. For more information, visit https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/3378/Nassau-County-Overdose-Prevention.
