Shippensburg University, in association with the RASE Project (Recovery Advocacy Service and Empowerment), hosted a free Narcan training and handout for the community Wednesday night.
Mike Boyer, education advocacy coordinator for the RASE Project, spoke to a packed room about what drug addiction is and how it affects people. The event started at 6 p.m. at The Harbor in Shippensburg.
The RASE project is a non-profit volunteer organization based in Harrisburg that provides advocacy services for individuals who are seeking recovery from addiction.
The Shippensburg University Alcohol and Drug (AOD) Connection program provided everyone in attendance with a dose of Narcan through a grant provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP).
Narcan, also known as naloxone, is designed to counteract the effects of an opioid overdose. It is available without a prescription as a nasal spray, and is covered by many insurance policies.
While it is not a substitute for emergency medical care, it may help until first responders arrive.
Pennsylvania currently ranks third in overdose deaths, according to a study by the Commonwealth Fund. In 2018, 52 people died in Cumberland County alone from opioid overdoses, The Carlisle Sentinel reported.
According to Kurt Dunkel, the program coordinator for AOD, another Narcan training will be held next fall on campus.
Visit raseproject.org for more information on the RASE project.
If you or someone you know is struggling with drugs or alcohol, the SU Connection AOD Program provides resources on-campus in Room 210 in Old Main.
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