(PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.) - Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D – Glen Cove) partnered with Project HELP Long Island to host a Narcan training event at the Port Washington Public Library on Thursday, Jan. 29.
Participants were provided Narcan kits and taught how to spot the signs of an opiate overdose, shown how to administer intranasal Naloxone to reverse an overdose, and learned about new approaches to treating addiction. The session was presented in partnership with Nassau County’s Department of Human Services and the Office of the Nassau County Executive.
“As a member of the Nassau County Heroin Task Force and President of Project HELP Long Island, I am committed to educating the public and combating stigma associated with mental health and addiction in our society,” event co-organizer Jeffrey Stone said. “While the number of overdose deaths from fentanyl poisoning has gone down, there are still far too many - and we must constantly send a message to the public that there are resources available that can equip each and every one of us to save a life.”
“Being prepared to respond to an emergency can make all the difference when every second counts,” Minority Leader DeRiggi-Whitton said. “I remain unwavering in my commitment to delivering resources that will save lives and give those struggling with addiction a chance at long-term, sustainable recovery. I am deeply thankful to Jeffrey Stone and Project HELP Long Island, Calle Panakos from the Nassau County Office of Mental Health, Chemical Dependency and Developmental Disability Services, and the Port Washington Public Library for their partnership, and we are working together to plan another training session soon at the library.”
PHOTO CREDIT – Photo by Peter M. Budraitis