Pubdate: Tue, 13 Jun 2017
Source: Asbury Park Press (NJ)
Copyright: 2017 Asbury Park Press
Contact:  http://www.app.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/26
Author: Sara Grillo

OD ANTIDOTE NALOXONE NOW IN EVERY HIGH SCHOOL IN MONMOUTH COUNTY

To keep the rising tide of opioid overdoses from extending into the
schools, county and school officials have put the OD antidote naloxone
in every one of the 74 public and private high schools in Monmouth
County.

"We have not had a drug overdose death at any school in Monmouth
County. But with that said, one never knows whether an overdose could
occur at or near a school," Christopher Gramiccioni, Monmouth County
prosecutor, said in a statement. "I hope schools never have to use
these kits, but we want them to be prepared,"

Gramiccioni said naloxone has been used resuscitate nearly 1,000
people in Monmouth County since law enforcement officers, medics and
firefighters started carrying it in 2014.

People as young as 15 have overdosed on opioids in Monmouth County,
Gramiccioni said.

Adapt Pharma of Radnor, Pa. provided the free kits of Narcan, he
said.

Dr. Victor Almeida, director of the Emergency Department at Monmouth
Medical Center in Long Branch, instructed school officials on the
epidemic and trained them to use naloxone. Watch the video at the top
of this story to learn more about naloxone.

"The latest reports from drug abuse experts indicate our young people
are at the greatest risk for drug addiction," Monmouth County Chief of
Detectives Michael Pasterchick said in a statement. "We can't ignore
the fact that kids are using and abusing drugs and dying at alarming
rates."
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MAP posted-by: Matt