Free Narcan and training is being offered to Ocean and Monmouth County residents as part of a community-focused overdose prevention project. The Narcan is being distributed through Neptune-based JSAS Healthcare, Incorporated. Ceo & Executive Director Ed Higgins said the state is funding this program through a handful of Opioid Treatment Program's (OTP's) Like his.

"The Assistant Commissioner of The State Division Of Mental Health and Addiction Services met with a few of us back in the later part of June and mentioned she was able to take some money from her federal block grants to put toward this initiative," said Higgins.

However, even though funding for the program is designed to go through February 15th, Higgins doesn't expect the Narcan (Naloxone) to last that long because he said it's an expensive drug.

"I was able to negotiate on the part of all four of the OTP's that had this, so we got a pretty good rate, compared to what the prosecutor (Ocean County Prosecutor Joe Coronato) had to spend when he did his event in Lakewood about six weeks ago but it's still, it's expensive," Higgins said.

Coronato's initiatives have been funded by donations in an extended drive by several local media outlets.

According to a JSAS press release, they're giving out opioid overdose kits that contain two doses of the Naloxone (Narcan) medication, two nasal atomizers, along with rescue breathing mask and gloves. Certified addiction counselors will be facilitating three training sessions each day on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at their Neptune facility.

"We're doing them out of the clinic in a smaller setting trying to add 20 to 25 people ... So a total of 9 times per week," He explained.

"Last but not least, we will also be talking to them about the proven methods of treatment that have been affective for dealing with chronic opioid addiction."

Higgins said all participants will receive a free Naloxone kit and a treatment voucher for 30 days of free substance abuse treatment to distribute to any person that needs medication-assisted treatment.

Training sessions will be held on September 24, September 30th, October 1, October 6th, October 8th with three training classes at 3pm, 5pm and 6:30 pm. The press release goes on to say that additional training dates and locations in Ocean County will be available soon. Get updates at www.jsashc.org.

JSAS Healthcare, Inc. Is located at 685 Neptune Boulevard, Suite 101, Neptune, NJ 07753. Telephone number 732-988-8877.

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