Learn to use Narcan, a life-saving treatment that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, with Truth Pharm at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 15 at the Afton Free Library, located at 105 Main Street in Afton. The training is open to the Chenango County and surrounding communities, and is completely free. (Photo by Sarah Genter)

AFTON — Truth Pharm, a Binghamton-based organization that aims to reduce stigma and educate communities on substance use, will be holding a free Narcan training at the Afton Free Library, located at 105 Main Street in Afton, at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, February 15.

The training is open to the Chenango County and surrounding communities, and will teach participants the science of substance abuse and addiction, as well as how to recognize an overdose, and how to respond to an overdose using Narcan.

Truth Pharm Program Coordinator Courtney Hayes said the organization has had a focus on rural communities over the last few years, as stigma toward people who use drugs is much higher in these areas.

"[We're] really focusing on these rural communities who are still kind of seeing more frequent stigma toward people who use drugs and may be more reluctant to have tools like Narcan available," she said. "So we just kind of try to build relationships and get opportunities to talk to people about these things and see that they are safety tools, nothing more, nothing less."

Narcan is a life-saving treatment that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. Hayes said overdose deaths are extremely high in the US, but methods of prevention are slim.

"In doing some of the outreach for these particular trainings in Chenango County, the number of deaths due to overdose in the US is about five times higher than the average death for accidental motor vehicle accidents. And the response has just not been the same," said Hayes.

"We have accidental deaths in vehicles and we have seat belts, and there’s seat belt checks, and there’s all these regulations about not texting and driving, and there’s guardrails, and speed limits. There’s all these safety measures put into place, and we’re not seeing that same response for people who are using drugs who are dying massive, massive numbers right now," she continued.

At the end of the training, participants will receive a free Narcan kit, and Hayes said refills are generally available at most major pharmacies.

"A lot of the major pharmacies in New York State now have Narcan on what’s called standing order, which means that they have it and you don’t need a prescription to get it, you can just walk in and say, hey, I need a Narcan kit. The cost will depend on your insurance, but there is a program to help offset some of those costs in New York State," she said.

In addition to free Narcan training, Truth Pharm offers services to individuals who use substances, including helping them to connect and establish with community resources, as well as family support groups, support coaches, and grief support groups for the families of individuals who use substances.

For more information on Truth Pharm and the services they provide, visit their website at TruthPharm.org or the Truth Pharm Facebook page.