SOUTH OZONE PARK, Queens (PIX11) -- Drug overdose continues to be a public health emergency in New York City. According to statistics from the health department, opioids were involved in more than 87% of overdose deaths.
There were more than 3,000 deaths in the city last year from people overdosing on opioids, most of them from fentanyl.
Alarmed by the rising number of deaths, State Senator Joseph Addabbo of Queens has been conducting training sessions for community residents, teaching them how to save a life if they see someone in the throes of overdosing.
Addabbo is passionate about his mission. "Those 3,000 New Yorkers not here today could possibly be here today if someone had one of these, and now you do," he declared at the opening of the session.
Residents of the South Ozone Park community were provided overdose rescue kits containing Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, an antidote for opioid overdoses that can temporarily reverse the effects of the drug. The medication only works on opioids.
Each kit contains two four-milligram nasal sprays of Narcan, a spray that could be administered to someone who has overdosed.
A strong voice bellows in the room, “So we’re walking down the street and we see someone on the floor unresponsive.”
The audience listened intently as the senior administrator of the Acacia Network Luis Laboy demonstrated how to administer Narcan. Leaning over a volunteer, he shouts, “I say, sir, sir, are you okay. Only if he does not respond, you put your hands on his chest to determine if he’s breathing. First thing I do is dial 911.” he then demonstrates how to place the Narcan inhaler into the drug abuser’s nose and spray.
It should take less than a minute for the antidote to take effect and bring the overdosed back to consciousness. Dr. David Collymore warns that the drug abuser "might be more agitated when they come to, but at least they are alive."
In cases where the person is not immediately responsive to the Narcan antidote, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is suggested. The training session lasted a little over an hour but those who attended found it well worthwhile.
"I learned it takes two seconds to save a life administering Narcan," said Queens resident Paul Cordero.
"It was beneficial," said Sarikia Laljie who is visiting New York. "I didn't realize how high the overdose deaths are and how important it is to have hands-on training. It's very important to know."
The overdose rescue kits are available free of charge from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene as well as many participating pharmacies in the area. Just remember, right place, right time, and you just could save a life.
Rescue kits can be obtained free of charge from these participating pharmacies:
