Cover photo: The Horizons Center in Smithtown (Credit – Google Street View)
This past week, the Town of Smithtown hosted a NARCAN training event at Horizons Counseling and Education Center, aimed at educating the public on how to effectively use NARCAN (naloxone) to reverse opioid overdoses. The event, held in recognition of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Recovery Month, underscored the life-saving potential of NARCAN, while participants wore purple to show solidarity for individuals struggling with substance use disorders and to raise awareness of mental health issues.
“Recovery is characterized by continual growth and improvement in one’s health and wellness and managing setbacks. Because setbacks are a natural part of life, resilience becomes a key component of recovery. At Horizons we believe treating the whole person is a key point in recovery,” stated Madi Makbolian, Director of Drug and Alcohol Counseling Services. “We try to empower our clients through education about their disease and help them to grow in their lives and recovery. Giving our clients the tools needed to recover offers them the freedom to make their own choices, we have the strength to break free from the chains of our past and pave our own path towards a better future.”
The training session was led by professionals from Horizons, who provided critical information on the signs of opioid overdose, how to administer NARCAN, and the steps to take in an emergency. Attendees learned how naloxone, an opioid antagonist, works by quickly reversing the effects of opioids on the brain, effectively restoring normal breathing in a person who has overdosed.
In addition to the Horizons staff, a Smithtown Park Ranger was present at the event to emphasize the town’s commitment to community safety and the importance of being prepared to respond to opioid-related emergencies in public spaces. He stated previously in the NYPD he has had to use NARCAN sadly on many occasions.
The participants in the event were shown the proper usage of NARCAN which in real-life scenarios and with quick action can save lives. The message was clear: anyone can be trained to use NARCAN and carrying it can be the difference between life and death in an overdose situation.
Many communities across the country have not been immune to the devastating impact of the opioid epidemic. With overdose deaths continuing to rise, town officials stressed the importance of equipping the community with the tools and knowledge to intervene in opioid-related emergencies. Suffolk County has been hard-hit by opioid overdoses, making events like this one a crucial part of local efforts to combat the crisis.
The NARCAN training not only provided practical skills but also opened a broader conversation about addiction, mental health, and recovery. Advocates and participants were able to share personal stories about how the opioid crisis had affected their families and friends, underscoring the need for continued education and prevention efforts.
The event took place during SAMHSA’s National Recovery Month, an annual observance held in September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, as well as the strong and proud recovery community. Participants wore purple ribbons to show their support for individuals on their recovery journey and to honor those who have lost their lives to addiction.
Alexis Stern, a counselor at Horizons headed the event. Stern said “As an addiction professional it’s so important to not only recognize overdose awareness during recovery month each September, but throughout the year as well. At Horizons, we have the opportunity to facilitate multiple NARCAN trainings for the public to spread the message of both understanding the disease of addiction and the importance of having access to medications such as Narcan that can save a life. We know how significant it is to not only emphasize the importance of treatment but also prevention and education relating to addiction”.
Throughout the event, the Horizons team showed how to use NARCAN kits to participants, ensuring they were equipped with life-saving medication. Attendees also received educational materials about local resources for substance use treatment, mental health services, and support groups for individuals and families affected by addiction.
The Town of Smithtown hopes that this event will inspire more residents to get trained and carry NARCAN. As opioid overdoses continue to claim lives, officials emphasized the critical role that ordinary citizens can play in responding to this public health crisis. Whether in homes, parks, or public spaces, being prepared to act with NARCAN can save lives and offer a second chance at recovery for those in need.
“Offering events such as NARCAN training and Medication Take Back to our residents is a proactive approach to assist in combating the nationwide opioid crisis. NARCAN training is an invaluable life-saving skill for everyone and anyone to learn. Don’t think to yourself, I’ll never need this skill… you simply just never know! Accidental overdoses on prescription drugs can easily happen to an elderly person living alone or to a family member suffering from dementia,” stated Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park).
By hosting events like these, Smithtown is taking an active role in fighting the opioid epidemic and supporting individuals on the road to recovery, while encouraging everyone to be part of the solution.