GREENFIELD — Two local organizations are teaming up once again to offer free overdose prevention trainings to the public, albeit through virtual means.
Tapestry, a regional social services organization, and the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region recently held the first of three scheduled training sessions to be held via Zoom this summer. Participants on Tuesday afternoon were taught how to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose, and how to administer Narcan — the brand name for naloxone, the type of medicine used to reverse an opioid overdose.
The training comes at a time when organizations such as the Greenfield-based Opioid Task Force are learning the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the opioid epidemic.
“We’re seeing that overdoses from opioids are not going away,” said Maile Shoul, project manager with the Opioid Task Force. “We have heard anecdotally that because of the isolation that comes with the pandemic and the difficulty people have in accessing recovery resources due to social distance … (overdoses) are going up, even if they’re not fatal.”
Because of that, she said, it’s important for as many members of the public as possible to recognize an overdose and how to respond to one.
The training on Tuesday also covered issues such as what an opioid is, the difference between synthetic and natural opioids, and other principals about harm reduction, such as not using alone.
Debra McLaughlin, coordinator with the Opioid Task Force, said the North Quabbin region in particular has been hit hard by fatal overdoses during the pandemic.
“The very conditions that keep one safe are exacerbating opiate misuse and other mental health issues, particularly those who might be experiencing chronic mental health due to the isolation that’s required,” she said.
McLaughlin added that there is the added complexity of accessing different services, in part for fear of contracting COVID-19.
“More and more family and friends are finding themselves in a position to reverse an overdose,” she said. “This is why we want to adapt to this new reality that we’re in at this moment so we can continue to use online tools, get Narcan out for people who need it.”
As they have been for the last several years, the trainings are being run by Tapestry. Unlike in years past, however, the trainings are held using a virtual platform.
Illaria Dana, the Greenfield syringe access program manager at Tapestry, conducted the training on Tuesday.
“I think doing virtual training — although maybe it’s not ideal for everyone — it definitely makes training a lot more accessible,” Dana said, noting that that was dependent upon access to the necessary technology.
McLaughlin also noted the virtual approach to trainings allows participants to remain anonymous, if they choose.
Dana said the Narcan nasal spray is “very user-friendly.”
“It’s a very accessible way to be supporting community members and preventing overdoses,” she explained. “Hopefully at some point everyone will be able to use Narcan and have it on them, and Tapestry is working to make that possible.”
The next Narcan trainings are scheduled for Aug. 13 at 6:30 p.m. and Sept. 23 at 10 a.m. According to Shoul, there is no deadline to register, but anyone interested should email her directly at maile@opioidtaskforce.org to receive Zoom access information.
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 263. Twitter: @MaryEByrne