Attendees of community training eligible to receive free Narcan Kit
Belleville, NJ – In response to a national call from the Surgeon General of the United States emphasizing the importance of Narcan, a life-saving medication that can stop or reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, the Center of Excellence for Latino Health at Clara Maass Medical Center will host training sessions in May and June to educate the community on the use of Opioids. The sessions will also provide instruction on the use of Narcan, and a free kit will be distributed to those in attendance.
Four sessions – planned for Thursday, May 31 at 11 AM will include a separate session at 12:30 PM for the Spanish-speaking community. A second series will be held at 5:00 PM on Monday, June 18, 2018 with a session to be conducted in Spanish only at 6:30 PM. Both sessions will be held in The Learning Center at Clara Maass Medical Center, 1 Clara Maass Drive in Belleville, NJ. The sessions are free and open to the public.
“Educating our community about the use of Opioids, its effects and life-saving treatment that can be given to those we know and care for is the right thing for us to do” said Mary Ellen Clyne, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Clara Maass Medical Center.
“Due to increases in the use of Opioids, there is a deep need for training on how to use Narcan, especially among the Latino community.” said Sarah Bonilla, MPH, Program Manager for the Center of Excellence for Latino Health at Clara Maass Medical Center. The Center of Excellence, which is funded by the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey and Verizon seeks to improve the wellness of the Latino community through outreach, education and meaningful collaborations.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), Narcan nasal spray can temporarily stop or reverse the effects of an Opioid or heroin overdose. Opioids are a class of drugs that include prescription medications such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine, as well as the illegal drug heroin. The spray is approved for use in adults and children and can easily be administered by first responders, family members or caregivers. Drug overdose deaths, driven largely by prescription drug overdoses, are now the leading cause of injury death in the United States – surpassing motor vehicle crashes. In 2013, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the number of drug overdose deaths had steadily increased for more than a decade.
The sessions will be facilitated by Queenie Reda, MSW, Health Educator and Jose A. Cruz, LCSW, MBA, Addictions Consultant and Mental Health Clinician from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Space at both events is limited and parking will be validated for all guests. Light refreshments will also be available.
Registration is required. To register, contact Sarah Bonilla, MPH at 973-450-2996 or sarah.bonilla.rwjbh.org.
About Clara Maass Medical Center
Located in Belleville, NJ, Clara Maass Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, provides a complete continuum of care to residents of northern New Jersey. Clara Maass recently completed state-of-the-art campus expansion project featuring a new four-story 87,000 square foot building with a private, 32-bed Intensive Care Unit, new Main Entrance and Lobby, Retail Pharmacy, Patient Registration Area and designated new space to accommodate our future Emergency Department expansion. Clara Maass’ services include: The Cancer Center, Center for Breast Health and Disease Management, Radiation Oncology, Infusion Therapy, Cardiac Services Elective and Emergency Angioplasty and Cardiac Rehabilitation, The Pain Management Center, The Joint & Spine Institute, a Vascular Lab, The Vein Center, The Wound Center, The Center for Sleep Disorders, The Bariatric Surgery Center, Rehabilitation; Therapy Services which includes, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, The Eye Surgery Center, Maternity Services and Parent Education, Pediatrics, Center of Excellence for Latino Health, and the Health and Wellness Center. Clara Maass has been recognized nine Grade ‘A’ scores for patient safety and quality by The Leapfrog Group. It is listed by the American Hospital Association as one of Healthcare’s Most Wired hospitals. In 2016-17 Clara Maass has received the Healthgrades Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award and the Labor and Delivery Excellence Award. Clara Maass received Disease Specific Care Certification from the Joint Commission for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS), Congestive Heart Failure, Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Advanced Certification in Palliative Care. Clara Maass earned Clara Maass’ steadfast commitment to improve the health and well-being of the communities it serves is exemplified through award winning programs including the nationally recognized HELP Volunteer program, recipient of the American Hospital Association 2017 HAVE Award, and the Wellness Assessment Van for Elders (WAVE) which was recognized as the New Jersey Hospital Association’s 2017 HRET Community Outreach Award. For a physician referral or more information about Clara Maass, call 1-888-724-7123 or visit www.rwjbh.org/claramaass.
Contact: Stacie J. Newton
Office: (973) 450-2989
Mobile: (201) 424-9678
E-mail: Stacie.Newton@rwjbh.org