Sayville, NY - April 15, 2015 - Suffolk County Legislator Bill Lindsay III will cosponsor two public safety programs on Tuesday, May 5th. An “Opioid Overdose Prevention Program, NARCAN Training Class” will begin at 7:00PM and a “Shed the Meds” event will run from 7:00PM – 9:00 PM. Both events will take place at the Community Ambulance Company, located at 420 Lakeland Avenue in Sayville.
Narcan is a prescription medication that reverses an opioid overdose, regardless of whether that opioid is a street drug like heroin, or a prescription drug like OxyContin, Vicodin, or Percocet. Narcan is available in different forms. The “NARCAN Training Class”, which is co-sponsored by Suffolk County Executive Bellone, the Suffolk County Health Department, Legislator Bill Lindsay III, the Community Ambulance Company, the Great South Bay Coalition, and Yes Prevention Services, meets all New York State Department of Health Requirements and includes recognition of opioid overdose administration of intranasal Narcan, and steps to take until EMS arrives. Certification and an emergency resuscitation kit will be presented to participants after completion of the course.
Non-medical use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines remains a significant part of the drug problem here on Long Island. Prescription and over-the-counter medications account for most of the commonly abused drugs by the nation's youth. According to data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, over 50 percent of people who abuse prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons obtained them from friends or relatives with permission and for free. Unwanted or expired medications left in the home could increase opportunities for drug abuse and accidental poisonings.
“Shed the Meds,” which is cosponsored by the Community Ambulance Company, the Great South Bay Coalition, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, Youth Enrichment Services, and Suffolk County Legislator Bill Lindsay III, will assist residents in the proper disposal of their expired or unused medications.
Shed the Meds will allow residents to safely dispose of unwanted and unused medications and prescription drugs. Members of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department will be available to assist and answer any questions residents may have.
For more information please contact: Melanie Holz, YES Prevention Director, at mholz@yesnews.net or 631-348-3513.
