Campaign to Equip NYers With Skills to Prevent Fatal Overdoses

(New York, N.Y.)—Drug overdoses have reached an all-time high, and in the majority of cases, opioids are the cause. As officials and advocates seek long-term solutions, there is something that individuals can do to save a life: learn how to administer naloxone to prevent an overdose.

“Ask yourself: if you saw someone overdosing on the street, would you know what to do?” asked Sharen I. Duke, Founding Executive Director and CEO of the Alliance. “Most people would not, but there are simple steps you can take to save someone’s life, and it begins with recognizing the signs of an overdose and knowing how to respond quickly. At Alliance, we want to help New Yorkers step up to save a life.”

The Alliance for Positive Change today launched a new campaign to equip New Yorkers with the skills and items necessary to prevent an overdose using NARCAN, the only FDA-approved nasal form of naloxone for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose.

The #SaveALife campaign, which runs for three months, aims to raise $5,000 through a crowdfunding campaign to cover the costs of training 100 people and distributing 100 NARCAN kits. Contributions can be made at www.alliance.nyc/savealife. Already, an Alliance Board Member has promised to match the first $2,000 in donations.

With each $5,000, Alliance is able to conduct training sessions for 100 people at the nonprofit organization’s Alliance LES Harm Reduction Center, which has a long history of assisting New Yorkers with substance use issues.

Reilly Glasgow, Project Manager at Alliance LES Harm Reduction Center, regularly trains New Yorkers on how to save a life. “At the end of our hour-long training sessions, people have learned how to recognize the signs of overdose and administer NARCAN nasal spray. Most are amazed at how easy this process is, and they leave feeling confident that they can help save a life,” Glasgow said.

Glasgow, who the New York City Department of Health recently presented with a Lifesaver Award, estimated that he has saved nearly 50 people from overdosing by administering NARCAN.

“At the Alliance, we want to give people a second chance, and the more New Yorkers we reach through this campaign, the more we can give others an opportunity to feel better, live better, and do better.”

To date, the Alliance has trained thousands of New Yorkers on how to identify the signs of an overdose and how to administer NARCAN. The organization also has distributed thousands of overdose prevention kits – 659 in 2017 alone.