HONESDALE, PA — Highlighting Wayne County’s involvement in a growing national epidemic of heroin use, the Wayne County Commissioners last week directed a $3,600 for the purchase of drug kits to reverse heroin overdoses.

The money was a grant from the Wayne County Drug and Alcohol Commission to the Wayne County Heroin Prevention Task Force, and the commissioners’ authorization will allow the purchase of 37 kits, each containing two doses of Narcan, a life-saving medication that blocks the effects of heroin and opiates and reverses an overdose.

Task force member Suzie Frisch said, “A few months ago after the fifth or sixth overdose” the group decided to acquire Narcan and funded it privately. “[Drug users] can’t get better if they’re not alive,” she said.

“We went to New York State for education, and made up a kit. We have 131 people here now certified to administer Narcan.” But, she said, the kits are very expensive. One kit has since been used to revive an overdosed user, she reported. The drug is administered intra-nasally and most times two applications are required. “It’s an easy procedure for the miracle it creates,” she said.

But rescue depends on those present during an overdose and they must have no reservations about calling 911, Commissioner Wendell Kay said. Pennsylvania has the Good Samaritan Law and “they can’t get in trouble or suffer a liability in any way,” he said.

Melissa Wertman, assistant administrator of the Wayne County Drug and Alcohol Commission said the commission is pleased to have funded the task force effort, but noted it was only one piece of the answer. “Education is the answer. Fear tactics don’t work,” she said.

“It’s an awful situation,” said Commissioner Brian Smith, “It has affected many of us close to home, family and friends.”

Commissioner Jonathan Fritz extended thanks to the task force volunteers, all of whom he noted have other full-time jobs.

A county press release noted that the task force has set up a system to get the medication into the hands of those who need it. Their distribution events will include a hands-on training for participants to learn how to respond to an overdose. Participants must complete online Department of Health training and present certification of that training prior to taking the hands-on training. More information is available on the Wayne County Heroin Prevention Task Force Facebook page.