HUNTINGTON, NY – July 29, 2026
Councilwoman Theresa Mari presented a community naloxone (generic name for Narcan) training for adolescents at town hall this past Tuesday, July 28, underscoring Huntington’s coordinated push to prevent opioid overdoses as summer risks peak. The session, hosted alongside the Huntington Youth Bureau and the Huntington Drug and Alcohol Counseling Center, offered on-the-spot naloxone training and free kits designed to help bystanders reverse suspected opioid overdoses.
“Barry Zaks is such a great addition to our town, to our Youth Bureau and our Huntington Drug and Alcohol Counseling Center,” Councilwoman Mari said at the start. “We are very lucky to have such a great group of people who want to help.”
Fast, Practical Training – With Free Kits
The training, led by Director of Huntington Drug and Alcohol Counseling Center, Barry Zaks, walked attendees through recognizing overdose symptoms and administering naloxone nasal spray. Each participant received a kit containing two naloxone doses, non-latex gloves, a breathing mask, and a quick-reference instruction card – plus a training card to confirm they’ve been taught how to use the medication.
“Narcan is an over-the-counter medication. It’s not harmful to handle and it’s not harmful to give people,” Zaks emphasized, noting naloxone’s safety profile. “There is one and only one contraindication I have found: an allergy to naloxone. And even that is described as theoretical. This is a super safe medication to use.”
Attendees were urged to administer naloxone immediately if an overdose is suspected, then call 911. If breathing does not resume within about a minute, a second dose should be given in the other nostril. Once breathing returns, residents were instructed to place the person in the recovery position and strongly encourage transport to the emergency room. naloxone’s protective effect lasts about 30 to 90 minutes, Zaks said, and overdose risk can return as the medication wears off.
Recognizing an Opioid Overdose
Overdose signs discussed included clammy, pale or blue-tinged skin, pinpoint pupils, slow or irregular heartbeat, slowed or stopped breathing, and unresponsiveness. Unlike alcohol poisoning, an opioid overdose is driven by respiratory depression.
“What happens when you mix two different types of central nervous system depressants, such as alcohol and pain pills or fentanyl? You get what they call a synergistic effect,” Zaks said. “The respiratory depression becomes severe – and that is one of the biggest risk factors for overdose.”
He added that local medical examiners estimate “75 to 90% of what’s classified as opioid overdoses are actually polysubstance use,” often involving combinations of opioids with benzodiazepines or alcohol.
Youth Risk, Changing Drug Landscape
Though opioid fatalities have decreased from pandemic-era highs, Zaks cautioned that “they’re still oddly high and unacceptably high.” Recent data show overdose deaths among U.S. youth, ages 15 to 19, rose sharply around 2020 and remain elevated. An average of 22 adolescents, ages 14 to 18, died each week from drug overdoses in the U.S., raising the death rate for that group to 5.2 per 100,000.
He noted a shift in the street drug supply from heroin to fentanyl and raised concerns about sedatives like xylazine adulterating opioid products. “Narcan only works on opioids,” he said. “When people are on multiple substances, Narcan will reverse the opioids – but may not reverse the effects of other sedatives or tranquilizers.”
Practical Tips and Persistent Myths
Residents were advised to store naloxone indoors and avoid glove compartments due to heat and freezing. While naloxone has expiration dates – kits distributed at the event are marked through the end of 2028 – attendees were encouraged to retain expired naloxone as it can remain useful. The counseling center offered to replace expiring kits and asked users to call after deployments to help track local usage.
Addressing misinformation, Zaks debunked the notion of “Narcan parties” and the idea that naloxone revivals lead to violent reactions. “I’ve been to quite a few Narcan saves,” he said. “People wake up groggy. They don’t feel good. There’s nothing pleasurable about it.”
He also reinforced that naloxone is safe to use even if the cause of unresponsiveness is unknown. “If you give Narcan to someone who’s having a heart attack, or overdosing on a sedative, or suffering from alcohol poisoning, nothing will happen – and you won’t cause harm. When in doubt, use it.”
Good Samaritan Law Encourages 911 Calls
To reduce hesitation in emergencies, Zaks highlighted New York’s Good Samaritan protections for those who call 911 to help an overdose victim. “No one’s going to be arrested for possession of alcohol, marijuana paraphernalia, or for using,” he said. “Since the Good Samaritan Law, people have felt more encouraged to save people.”
Resources for Students and Families
Responding to questions about college and social settings, organizers encouraged students to carry naloxone and use drug-checking tools when available. “We have fentanyl test strips and xylazine test strips,” Zaks said. “If you call us, we’ll get you some.” He referenced National Night Out on Tuesday, August 4, as an upcoming opportunity to connect with resources.
Janine Salgado, Executive Director of the Youth Bureau, urged residents to reach out anytime.
“Call while you’re at school. If something happens in your dorm and you’re scared, and you don’t know what the next step should be, we will walk you through it,” Salgado said.
Zaks reiterated that naloxone is not a treatment for addiction but a life-saving emergency tool. “When people have crossed the line into addiction, they develop a whole host of cognitive and behavioral problems. People need self-help and professional help to overcome,” he said. “And that’s why you have our pamphlet and you have our phone number because sometimes when people have hit the point where they’re hitting hospitals, they become willing to accept they need help. Just saying, ‘Oh, I’ve learned my lesson,’ doesn’t work with this. I wish it did.”
Residents left with kits, instructions, and contact information attached to each kit. “Feel free to call us,” organizers said. “Take the card, put your name and today’s date on it to indicate you’ve been trained.”
Photography by Dana E. Richter.
Addiction can affect anyone, and asking for help is a sign of strength. If you or someone you know needs support, contact the Huntington Drug & Alcohol Counseling Center at (631) 271-3591 or email info@HDACC.org. Learn more about their Treatment Services or Prevention Services. You are not alone.
