This weekend the Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission held two training sessions for family members who wanted to be trained in the use of naloxone.

Naloxone, which is also referred to as Narcan, is for use in the event of a heroin and opioid overdose.The drug, which in this case is administered through the nose, can save the life of an overdose victim by countering the effects of the opioid.The sessions were conducted by Jamie Drake, the acting director of the CMP D & A and Carolee Boyer, outpatient treatment supervisor.Those who attended were either family members of drug users, law enforcement or people who are employed in the treatment of addicts.Those present were instructed in what to look for to determine if an overdose is occurring, and how to respond. The participants were given a certificate, which confirmed that they had received "bystander naloxone training."The certificate is required to obtain a prescription for the lifesaving drug."Even with the certificate, some doctors are reluctant to write the prescriptions," said Drake. "That is why those present here will receive a kit to take with them."The presenters stressed that regardless of this training, placing the call to 911 first is crucial. Naloxone only works in the system for 20 to 90 minutes after it is administered."There is a stigma attached to the addicts we need to overcome," Boyer said."We don't label diabetics. We can't make it so that addicts won't come for treatment if they are afraid of being labeled. No one decided to become an addict."The training events were sponsored by the commission and the Pike County Parents for Prevention and were funded through the Carbon County Action Committee.People interested in obtaining additional information on naloxone can go to these websites:

www.getnaloxone.org,

www.ddap.pa.gov or

http://harmreduction.org/issues/overdoes-prevention/tools.They can also contact the commission at 610-377-5177.People can contact their family physician to obtain a prescription once they have completed the certification."For families of addicts this is the best gift you can receive that you never want to use," said Drake.