A chilling and tragic statistic released this week by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials indicated that for the first time, an estimated 100,000 Americans died of a drug overdose in one year. Exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, overdose deaths have risen – by 29 percent between April 2020 and April 2021. In an effort to educate and protect residents, Supervisor Don Clavin and Councilman Anthony D’Esposito have teamed to Narcan Training and Drug Awareness seminars throughout America’s largest township. Hosted by D’Esposito, a former NYPD detective and former chief for the Island Park Fire Department, residents are trained on the use of Narcan (naloxone), a drug that reverses the potentially fatal outcome of a drug overdose. As the startling numbers continue, Clavin and D’Esposito are urging residents to register and attend one of several upcoming Narcan training seminars, including on Thursday, November 18th at 8 p.m. at the Oceanside Knights of Columbus, 2985 Kenneth Place in Oceanside. Today’s announcement by Clavin and D’Esposito was also made by Senior Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby, Councilman Bruce Blakeman, Councilman Dennis Dunne, Sr., Councilman Tom Muscarella, Councilman Chris Carini, Town Clerk Kate Murray and Receiver Jeanine Driscoll.
Earlier this year, as statistics became more alarming by the day, Clavin & D’Esposito partnered with their colleagues on the Town Board to expand the Narcan training program schedule by adding dates to local communities and hosting new weekend sessions at the beach throughout the summer months. They also committed to distributing their 10,000th Narcan kit from the Town of Hempstead by the end of the year. With that goal nearing, Clavin and D’Esposito today reemphasized the importance of taking the Narcan training course as the nation tackles both a pandemic and a drug epidemic.
“The statistics are startling, and no community is immune from the opioid epidemic that has swept our nation,” Clavin said. “The Town of Hempstead continues to be a leader in combating opioid addiction and overdoses, and I’m proud to work alongside Councilman Anthony D’Esposito to host Narcan Training Programs that provide our residents with the knowledge and training necessary to help save lives of those experiencing a drug overdose.”
“Serving as a first responder for many years, I have seen the tragic consequences of opioid abuse on local families,” D’Esposito said. “No one wants a loved one to become another victim of the opioid epidemic, and we are working to provide residents with the tools to save lives. We are approaching our goal of distributing 10,000 Narcan kits by the end of the year, and I encourage neighbors to participate in these important life-saving seminars.”
Residents who attend the program’s free, one-hour classes are also provided with complimentary Narcan response kits – with over 9,300 kits having been distributed to members of the public so far. In addition to receiving free Narcan training kits, members of the public who attend the Narcan training classes will be instructed on how to identify an overdose victim, properly administer Narcan to the person experiencing an overdose, and contact emergency officials. The Town of Hempstead-sponsored Narcan training classes are open to members of the public at no cost. Classes will last for approximately one hour.
The schedule for the upcoming free community Narcan training classes is as follows:
- November 18th at 8 p.m. - Oceanside Knights of Columbus, 2985 Kenneth Place, Oceanside
- December 6th at 6 p.m. - Bellmore Library, 2288 Bedford Avenue, Bellmore
- December 9th at 6 p.m. - Bellerose Village Hall, 50 Superior Road, Bellerose
- December 13th at 6:30 p.m. – Island Trees Library, 38 Farmedge Road, Levittown
- December 15th at 6 p.m. – Freeport Library, 144 West Merrick Road, Freeport
Call (516) 812-3242 (tel) to register for the free classes. Walk-ups are welcome. Visit hempsteadny.gov for updated schedules and events.
