The Truxton Town Fire Department will soon have an N-POD–a Narcan Point of Distribution–in front of its station. Quick and easy access to this life-saving medication when someone is overdosing from an opioid is crucial. To expand public access in a life-threatening emergency, Healing Cortland and Healing Hearts Collaborative are partnering to install N-PODS (Narcan Point Of Distribution) in various locations across Cortland County.

There will be a press conference on Wednesday, August 30 at 6pm outside of the Truxton Fire Station to announce this to the public. There will be remarks given by members of the Truxton Fire Department, Healing Hearts Collaborative, Healing Cortland, Nicole Anjeski, Cortland County Public Health Director and someone with first hand experience of naloxone use in the rural context. There will also be Town of Truxton officials, other County officials, local agency representatives and community members in attendance to show their support for the Truxton Fire Department in their efforts to save lives.

These secured plastic housing units are wall mounted and contain 9 doses of Narcan nasal spray. Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a medication approved to reverse overdose by opioids. Naloxone is given when a person is showing signs of an opioid overdose. It blocks the toxic effects of the overdose and restores breathing to the individual. These N-PODS are similar to publicly sited Automated External Defibrillators (“AEDs”), providing both a life-saving resource as well as instructions for use. Although Narcan is very accessible in the City of Cortland, many rural communities have limited access. If you have or know of a rural location for an N-POD to be located, contact Dean O’Gorman at 607-283-6378.

We are inviting the public to join us for this special event.

To learn more about this effort and other efforts to increase naloxone distribution in Cortland County contact Sara Watrous, Project Director of Healing Cortland at swatrous@cortlandareactc.org or (607)232-1617.