Free Narcan Training Offered By Kings Park in the kNOw

Kings Park parents fearful of opiate drugs and the deadly impacts it can have on a teen's life can joint the frontline fight.

Kings Park in the kNOw is hosting a free NARCAN training this Wednesday at Kings Park Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall. It is open to all those interested in learning how to administer the life-saving drug. 

"Almost two hundred families have been saved from the horror of burying a loved one to drug overdose, many of those people saved by Narcan were people under the age of 25,” said Kim Revere, president of Kings Park in the kNOw.

Last month, Suffolk executive Steve Bellone announced Suffolk Department of Health Services had registered with the state as a Opioid Overdose Prevention Program, allowing the county to train residents to administer Narcan. Narcan - also known as Naloxone - is an opiate blocker that can reverse an overdose from heroin or prescription opiate pain killers, such as Vicoden or Percocet. 

Dr. Tom Jan will lead all participants on Wednesday in how to properly administer Narcan to prevent an overdose. All those who take part will receive a full Narcan kit and a prescription to carry one. 

Suffolk County was one of only three counties in New York to participate in a test program to see if basic life support providers, first responders and police officers, could recognize an opiate overdose and administer Narcan. Since then, more than 174 lives have been saved in Suffolk. 

There are thousands of mothers and fathers out there who know their sons or daughters are facing devastating addiction,” said Suffolk County legislator Kara Hahn who championed the use of Narcan in Suffolk County by authoring three laws.  “Their greatest fear is that one day they will wake to a child who has overdosed and not be able to help them.  These trainings will empower those parents/and or friends or roommates of addicted individuals to be prepared to save their lives should that be necessary.

Those interested in taking part should email Maureen.L.Rossi@gmail.com to reserve a spot. The Kings Park V.F.W Hall is located at 40 Church St. in Kings Park.