Community rolls up its sleeves to fight the overdose epidemic!

Rocky Point Sound Beach Chamber of Commerce President and Founder, Gary Pollakusky, is not new to the needs of our region in both awareness and logical approaches to the region's opiate overdose problems. Far from it! In June of 2017, he was the trophy sponsor for the VFW Post 6249 "Ride for Roger Poker Run" along with the June 2018 event. Proceeds went the VFW to help fund programs for our PTSD Veterans who most often are coping with overdose issues because the most common treatment has been opiate sedative therapy resulting in high rates of addiction.

Along with the North Fork Cruisers Car Association, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, many events creating such awareness along with overdose awareness have been held in the region.

In response to the current epidemic of opiate overdoses in our community, Jeff Davis of the Rocky Point Funeral Home is reaching out to assist the community in any which way they can to help prevent the continued senseless loss of life in the community.

"Please, if you have any members of your family either using opiates of any type for either medical reasons by prescription or, sadly through addiction, you should take advantage of this free opportunity to learn more about the dangers and how to recognize symptoms, plus how to rescue in the event of an overdose."

Unlike other classes, pre-registration is not required and a level of intimacy is maintained.

The course offered is short, about 30 minutes and at the end, attendees will receive an ID as Trained and Certified along with a Narcan Overdose Rescue Kit.

There will be 3 sessions throughout the 2 hour period.

• Session 1 11:00 AM - 11:30
• Session 2 11:40 AM - 12:20
• Session 3 12:30 PM- 1:00

Please call the Rocky Point Funeral Home at 631 744-9000 to let them know you're coming so they can be amply prepared with enough kits for all. No formalities, just the session of choice and your first name will do.

Dianne and Peter Oleschuk, local residents have been providing the training as representatives of the Community Action for Social Justice, a 501c3 not for profit organization providing it's services throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties. These have been ongoing in our area on frequent basis at the Rocky Point VFW Post 6249 on King Road, initiated by local leaders such as Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo, local Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Brittingham Bonner Sandusky, the North Shore Community Association, North Fork Cruisers Car Association and by Gary Pollakusky.

This community alliance of organizations and leaders has been working together since last summer, when the Rocky Point, Sound Beach and Miller Place communities were hit by record losses of life due to overdoses and, in one particular weekend, there was a shortage of Narcan in rescue vehicles due to excessive rescues. There was a rash of lethal doses being sold in the region that sadly claimed many lives.

When Jeff Davis of Rocky Point Funeral Home found out that for quite some time, many people would show up on a regular scheduled basis at Deks American Restaurant before they closed, to get free training in the back dining area by Dianne and Peter, he identified the need to get something regular going again and has "stepped up to the plate."

"This is the first." said Jeff Davis, "but far from the last. More are planned for the near future."

Dianne and Peter have provided this service recently along with organizing a car show benefit fundraiser for the Michael A. LoRusso Foundation, in Seaford, NY, along with another dozen similar such events in this past year, promoting and providing Narcan rescue kits.

The problem has outgrown our county's ability to bring things down to a tolerable level. The growth in the not-for-profit areas along with involvement by civic organizations such as chambers of commerce and local government is critical. When children die, no level of failure is acceptable!