HOWELL – The Howell Municipal Alliance will hold a free training session at 7 p.m. on June 26 during which participants will be taught how to administer Narcan.
Narcan (naloxone) can be used to revive an individual who has overdosed on opioids. The training session will be held at the Howell municipal building, Route 9.
The Howell Municipal Alliance is part of the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Municipal Alliance program for community-based substance abuse prevention strategies.
The alliance’s mission statement says it “collaborates with residents, schools, town government, police, businesses and other local organizations to prevent drug addiction, underage drinking and tobacco use through promoting public awareness, education, outreach resources, life skills and positive choices.”
Christa Riddle, who is the coordinator of the alliance, said residents of all communities may attend the training session. Participants will receive a free Narcan kit. The training sessions are offered through JSAS HealthCare, Neptune.
Riddle said she hopes to hold a free training seminar on a regular basis. The June 26 session is limited to 30 people on a first come, first served basis. There is no pre-registration required.
“Some people take the training because they have a loved one, or friends, or someone they are concerned about, who (may be) taking an opioid prescription they can overdose on, and there are other people (who know) someone suffering from substance abuse disorder,” Riddle said.
As of early June, there had been about 20 overdoses (fatal and non-fatal) in Howell in 2019. During 2018, Howell had 67 overdoses, according to officials.
Riddle said it is hoped that people who survive an overdose can get the help they need.
“That is our goal, when Narcan is administered in Howell, Police Chief (Andrew) Kudrick has recovery coaches respond to the calls and they hopefully will get people into treatment and recovery programs. That is why we feel Narcan is so important, it is that first step in maybe getting someone help and saving their life,” Riddle said.
She said that under the terms of the Good Samaritan Law, if an individual administers Narcan to a person who has overdosed, the person administering the Narcan has immunity.
For more information, call 732-938-4500, ext. 4012, or email [email protected]