DELAWARE (11/26/2014) More classes are planned for Delawareans to learn how to administer naloxone, an overdose-reversing drug.
A state law allowing for family members, friends or people with an addiction to be trained how to use the nasal spray was approved this year to reduce deaths from accidental opiate overdoses.
According to state health officials, 158 suspected overdose deaths occurred from January through October, with many involving heroin or prescription pain killers. Nationally, heroin overdose deaths alone increased 45 percent between 2006 and 2010.
The Delaware Overdose Survival Education classes, approved by the state, are offered by Brandywine Counseling.
No registration is required but they are first-come, first-served. The class itself but individuals will be charged $50 for a naloxone nasal spray kit that is distributed after training. The Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health has provisions for those unable to pay. Individuals who complete the class also will receive a wallet-sized card containing training information.
So far, 55 people have been trained and 28 naloxone kits, which contain two doses each, have been distributed.
The new one-hour classes:
- Dec. 13: Noon, Stubbs Elementary School, 1100 N. Pine St., Wilmington. 429-4175.
- Dec. 15: 6 p.m., Milford Moose Lodge, 20142 Beaver Dam Road, Milford. 424-2316.
- Jan. 22: 6 p.m., Camp Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach. 227-5620.
- Jan. 28: 6 p.m., Wilmington Parks and Recreation, specific location to be announced.
- March 30: 6 p.m., Delaware Technical Community College’s Wilmington Campus, 333 N. Shipley St., Wilmington. 857-1000.
- May 18: 6 p.m., Delaware Technical Community College’s Stanton Campus, 400 Stanton-Christiana Road, Newark. 283-3179.
- June 15: 6 p.m., Camp Rehoboth, 37 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach. 227-5620.
- July 9: Middletown location, time and specific location to be announced.
- Sept. 8: 6 p.m., Delaware Technical Community College’s Terry Campus, 100 Campus Drive, Dover. 857-1427.
For more information, contact Brandywine Counseling at 302-504-5920 or bccs@brandywinecounselng.org , or go to www.brandywinecounseling.org.