The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office will give out 100 free Naloxone, better known as Narcan, kits on Monday to kits to families dealing with the effects of heroin.
Narcan is an inhaled medication that can be given to a person who has overdosed on an opiate drug. Narcan temporarily reverses the effects of opium and allows a patient to survive until they can be treated in a hospital. Earlier this year, Ocean County police officers and other first responders began carrying the drug as part of a state pilot.
The prosecutor's office will offer the drug at the Preferred Behavioral Health Center, 725 Airport Road, Lakewood, on July 7 at 6 p.m. when the Ocean County Opiate Task Force, Preferred Behavioral Health, Prevention First and Dr. Raj Juneja hold a "Family Night" as part of their monthly Town Hall meeting.
The first 100 family members to arrive at the “Family Night” event, who feel Naloxone can be a second chance for their addicted love one, will receive a free Naloxone kit. A training video and demonstration on administering Naloxone will be presented. Additionally, Dr.Juneja, a member of the board will be on site to discuss the effects of Naloxone and to write prescriptions for families in need.
Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato said he has worked with a number of Ocean County pharmacies to have Naloxone regularly on hand for purchase. The list of pharmacies and the Naloxone training video can be found on the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office website at www.oceancountyprosecutor.org.
To date, according to the prosecutor's office, 52 people have been saved by Narcan since first responders in Ocean County began carrying it earlier this year.
The pilot program, which has now been expanded to the rest of the state, was spearheaded by Coronato.
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