ACR Health in Utica is launching a new public health initiative to reduce the number of deaths from heroin and opiate overdoses..

The program trains non-medical persons to administer injections of the drug Naloxone to another person to prevent an overdose from becoming fatal.

Director of Prevention For ACR Health Erin Bortel says the training is valuable for anyone who may know or be in contact with regular opiate users, and it's not difficult to administer.

The injections can be given through clothing in the shoulder or thigh, no vein is needed, and training takes about 45 minutes for a two year certification

For more information on becoming certified to administer Naloxone, contact ACR Health  by calling 1-800-475-2430 or log on to the ACR Health website.

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