MILFORD, PA — As it has been many times over the past year, Pike County’s heroin problem was the primary topic of discussion at the county commissioners’ December 21 meeting.

Narcan (also known as Naloxone) is a controlled substance prescription that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. It has been in use by physicians and first responders, but in October of 2015, PA Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine issued a “standing order” making it available, without prescription, to “those at risk of experiencing an opioid-related overdose, or who are family members, friends or other persons who are in a position to assist” someone experiencing an overdose.

An open training program for the application of the life-saving drug will take place at the Pike County Training Center in Blooming Grove at 6 p.m. on January 11 (snow date January 18). Pike County and Pyramid Healthcare, a drug treatment center based in Tannersville that contracts services to Pike County, will sponsor the hour-long training. A limited number of Narcan training kits will be available at no charge.

As misapplication of Narcan can be life-threatening, training in its use is recommended for anyone administering the drug. A certificate issued after training is required to authorize pharmacists to dispense Narcan to the non-professionals for whom the standing order was issued. The certificate also provides some liability protection for those administering it.

While the order primarily speaks to family members locally, it also was meant to encourage prompt calls for emergency help from those living in other surroundings. The order appeals to anyone making a 911 call to remain with the overdose victim as the law “provides that you will not be arrested or charged with parole violations or drug offenses if you call 911, provide all necessary information and remain with the person in distress.”

A similar training was held in Pike after the order was first approved.

Commissioners’ Chair Matt Osterberg said heroin use is creating alarming health statistics all over the state. There are no hard numbers on drug-overdose-related deaths in Pike. County coroners provide the numbers and “it all depends on how those deaths are reported.

“That’s part of it, we have no hospital, so overdoses here are reported in other places. We all know it’s an epidemic…. We can either address it or sit back and watch people suffer,” he said.

In other business, last week the commissioners approved a new three-year collective-bargaining agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 87, AFL-CIO for Children & Youth Services and Area Agency on Aging caseworkers. The agreement calls for annual 3% pay increases over the term and increases in employee “on-call” pay.

The commissioners’ next regularly scheduled meeting will be at 9 a.m. on January 4 at the administration building.