By COLlive reporter
There is a heroin epidemic here on Long Island and around the country, says Rabbi Anchelle Perl at Chabad of Mineola. It’s impacting our communities.
“We salute Supervisor Anthony Santino, Senior Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby and Town Councilman Anthony D’Esposito, for spearheading this lifesaving initiative in providing us the training to become Overdose Responders,” he said.
The training class led by Hempstead Medical Director Dr. David Neubort, included identifying an overdosed victim, administering the Narcan Kit, and contacting the emergency officials. [Narcan kits can quickly reverse the effects of a narcotic overdose and are essential in combatting heroin deaths.]
Rabbi Perl explains we all want to be ready to help save a life and to encourage many more community leaders, rabbis and lay persons to become an Overdose Responder.
“Our goal is to make it ‘Kosher’ to become an Overdose Responder, and more importantly thru this program, strive to build a caring community that is aware of and responsive to the problems of heroin and supports individuals and families who struggle with addiction,” he said.
With the support of the Town of Hempstead, Chabad is working to open multiple avenues of access within and outside the Jewish community.
“Our efforts are to combat denial and stigma, helping the Jewish community and beyond, understand that addiction is a disease that impacts our community and a disease that can be treated,” he said.
The underlying crucial goal and mission statement of becoming an Overdose Responder, is to ensure that individuals and their families who are impacted by addiction, seek help.
Joining the press conference were also Judge Robert Rosenthal and Debbie Sherman, lay leaders at the local Chabad.
