Pubdate: Sun, 20 Apr 2014
Source: Times Herald-Record (Middletown, NY)
Copyright: 2014 Hudson Valley Media Group
Website: http://www.recordonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2544
Author: James Nani
Bookmark: http://mapinc.org/topic/naloxone

KINGSTON OFFICIALS: 2 LIVES WERE SAVED WITH ANTI-OVERDOSE MEDICATIONS

KINGSTON - The Kingston Fire Department's new stash of life-saving
medication to give people suffering from opiate drug overdoses has
already saved two lives, the city says.

Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo and Kingston Fire Department Chief Mark
Brown said its fire department is one of the first in the area to
begin stocking intra-nasal Narcan, given to those suffering from
opiate overdoses of drugs like heroin or Oxycodone.

"With the influx of fentanyl-laced heroin in the area and the
significant increase in overdoses seen by first responders, this will
allow our personnel to administer the drug sooner to counteract the
ill effects. We have already seen how this program can make a
difference," said Brown.

Department Deputy Chief Tom Gleason said it has already given the drug
to two people in less than a week.

"It's lifesaving, without a doubt," said Gleason.

The department got their first stock of Narcan April
7.

It's administered through the nose with a ventilator and enters the
blood stream fast to help with shallow breathing in the first critical
moments when lack of oxygen to the brain can begin to cause damage.
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